Okay, this is my first ever so please tell me what you think. I wrote this because I always thought Mara
should have gone back to the Academy after she left and then would trained in her own way. She already had the physical ability and she knew how to use the Force, she just needed peace with herself before she could protect peace anywhere else. She never really had the chance to come of age with emotional maturity and young adult hood. I'm also trying to right it to
be light hearted. And of course, it is an L/M fics...

Oh Yeah (place all regular disclaimer stuff here)

Garden: Part One

Mara Jade walked through the stone corridors of the Massasi temple thinking about nothing and everything, headed for outside. There was nothing to do outside, but there wasn't really anything interesting inside.

She was greeted at the exit by muggy hot air and high bright sun. She walked across the corner of the
landing platform, a large level field of cut grass, to a small garden off to the side. It was a fluke
garden. Nobody planted the white and red creeping carpet. Or hung the vines that over flowed with
yellow petals.

She was really the only one who went there, the other students never really saw it as special, just always
there.

What everyone else didn't know was that if stepped through the yellow curtain and made your way through the forest a few hundred meters more, there was a warm sunny clearing where all you could see were flowers. Tiny one to large, of every shape and color.

Mara sat down amongst the flowers and looked around. The life and the beauty were flowing through her. It wasn't something she tried for, but after a few weeks of being open to it, it just happened. Something she wouldn't notice was there unless it was gone.

She took of her light jacket and balled it into a pillow. Leaning back she put it behind her head and
gazed at the blue sky through the green leaves of the canopy.

Luke sat in office at the Academy smiling to himself. Everything was going according to plan. Leaning backing his chair, he put his feet on the desk and gandered at the large package in the corner.

It was waste high and about six ft long and four ft wide. All in all one big box. Inside it held the
most thoughtful gift he'd ever gotten anybody. No all he had to do was keep it hidden until he was ready to give it.

Luke quickly straightened as he heard a knock at the ancient wooden door. "Come in," he said while
pretending to be doing some work on the data pad. Kam entered, took one glance at the Jedi Master and let a smile spread over his face. "Nice try Master Skywalker, but you're an awful actor."

"Yeah, I know, I know. I've been a little restless lately huh?"

Kam raised his eyebrows but kept his amused expression. "I won't tell anyone I promise," he said
with a chuckle. "You are only human after all. Anyway, your sister is waiting to talk to you on the
holo."

"Oh, great!" Luke stood and started for the comm center with Kam striding with him. "Kam, keep
everyone away from my office until after…"

"Did it come?" He asked with eyes wide.

"It did, a few hours ago."

"Did she see it delivered?"

"No, thank the Force. She would definitely know by now. She still night figure it out if I can't keep a
clamp on my emotions."

"Well, you done well so far. Only a few days left."

They both stopped in front of the comm center door." I don't know if you'll make it though."

"Thanks Kam, for the reassurance and all."

"You're welcome." He hung hi head and chuckled, he gave the Master a good hardy slap on the back and walked away.

Luke went in and sat in front of the holo comm unit. He flicked a switch and was greeted by his sister's
shining face. "Hi Leia, you almost here?"

"We're about three hours out. We have to make the end of the trip in sublight because of the hyper
drive." She was a little more than testy at those last few words. Luke decided it was best not to joke
about it.

"Alright. Well by the time you get here the evening meal will be served, then you'll have plenty of time
to relax," he said, at least trying to lighten the mood.

"When you have twins in their terrible 2's and a nine month old baby, you don't relax, ever," she responded good naturedly.

"I can't wait to see them. It's been two months, that two months too long," he moped.
"Oh, they're excited to see you too. I swear," she offered.

The twins started laughing together then signed off. Luke glanced at his wrist chrono and sighed, he had
students to meet with.

It was weird being a friend to them one minute and a teacher the next. All well, he walked to the grand
chamber, all the while looking foreword to his sister's arrival.

Three and half hours later the ramp to the Millennium Falcon lowered and two toddling children ran down
yelling " Uncle Wuke! Uncle Wuke!" at the top of their tiny lungs. Leia followed with Anakin on her
hip. With a child in each arm, Luke was unable to embrace his sister, so he settled for a kiss on the
cheek from her and a big warm smile.

Leia was followed by her husband Han, more importantly, Luke best friend Han.

"Hey Kid! How ya been? Sorry we're late, the Falcon's been moody." He clapped the Jedi on the
back.

"Yeah, 'moody's' the word for it," Leia responded,rolling her eyes.

Chewbacca then took Luke and the twin in a hug,though careful of the children, and gave them a great
twirl. "Hey Chewie!"

Chewie growled his hello but then continued atlength.

"Have things really gotten that boring without me?"Luke asked.

"Yeah, without having to pull you butt out of thefire every five minutes, it gets pretty dull." Han
explained, Chewie growled an affirmative and Leia started laughing.

"Thanks," Luke said sarcastically. "I'll try and work on that for you guys."

"If it's not too much troubled," Han jibed.

"Ha ha. Come on. Let's get you all settles and fed."

The sun was finally setting over Yavin, with the planet itself disappearing in the horizon of the
fourth moon. The light streamed through the grand high windows and lit the dining hall with a golden
glow. Around the tables everyone was getting settled to eat and chat about every topic under the sky.

Luke and Leia were talking about all the recent developments of the children while Han tried to feed
them. After a few minutes it was Chewie who noticed that one of the chairs at the table was empty. Luke
looked at the chair with concern when he slapped his own forehead. "Mara."

"Where is she?" a couple of surrounding people asked at once.

"I don't know, she normally doesn't miss meal time, although she barely eats." Luke responded to himself
mostly. He excused himself for a few seconds to go find his friend.

He went outside and stretched out with the Force. He was afraid was lost or hurt, but laughed to himself
when he felt her ultra calm presence in a state of sleep. Of course she wasn't hurt, he would have felt
it instantly, and she wasn't lost because she would have reached out to him hours ago. Had it been hours
since he'd last seen her? Hmmm? He tracked her to her secret garden.

In his head it was just 'Mara's Garden.' He found her stretched out among the flowers in a deep peaceful
sleep. She looked as delicate as any of the petals she rested among. Her long red gold waves were fanned beneath her and the light streams illuminated her bare arms and face with a golden glow. Instead of waking her up, leaned against a tree and absorbed the peace she was emitting. It pleased him to no end to finally see his friend settling into herself, without being restless or paranoid, or defensive. Finally healing
from her past. What she needed was just time to be Mara, do things on her schedule with out having to
accomplish anything. She needed to grow of her own volition, like the flowers she was sleeping with.

When she first came back she made it perfectly clear that she wanted to stay but not to be pushed, and
that's the way it was. At first she was jumpy, and almost left a few times. If Luke had tried to
convince her stay she wouldn't have, he just rode the waves until they calmed. She came to him when she
needed to, she participated when she wanted to, and grew as naturally as she did. In his own opinion,
this was the type of training Mara needed. To be intone with the life around her, she needed to regain
the nature of her self that was taken away so long ago. With having to survive or worry about making a
living, she was able to live.

After a little while of reflection he knelt on one knee and gently shook her shoulder. "Mara. Mara wake
up," he said softly. Instead of jerking to full awareness like she used to do after slumber, her
eyelids fluttered open as transitioned to wakefulness in peaceful manner.

"Hmmm."

"Mara, it's dinner time."

"Oh, what time is it?"

"Dinner time Mara."

"Yes, I know, you told me that."

Luke started laughing and helped her up.

"Come on sleepy head."

"Yep. Its still really hot out. Do I have stuff in my hair? All well, the moisture makes it
frizzy any way..." she rambled on as they left the forest. That was also something new, Mara voicing
random thoughts. Luke rather liked it though. In private she also voiced things that were not so
random. This also left him open to talk of his own private workings with her. It was just nice.

Peaceful.

As they exited the forest Mara noticed the Falcon on the "landing pad.""Oh that's right, your sister's here. I'm sorry Skywalker, I totally forgot."

"It's okay, but they are eagerly awaiting your presence at the dinner table."

"Yeah sure."

"Hi Mara! Glad you could join us," Leia enthused.

"What, and miss a gourmet meal like this."

She spread her hands and indicated the table, her voice was as sarcastic as it could be.

"Hey," Luke interjected, "It's better than your precious ration bars."

"Yeah yeah..."

The dinner continued with banter and gossip and news, with bites in between and food flying from
three toddler seats every once in while.

After the meal was over the group went to an upper solarium to talk quietly and wind down. As the
conversation turned to politics and other galactic matters, Han and Chewie decided it would be a good
time to put the twins down for the night, then sneak off to play with the Falcon.

"So Amber's military position is safe?" Mara asked.

"Yes, it took some doing to quiet the senate, on Mothma finally cut me off from late night
call for advice. I wonder what'll happen while I'm gone." Leia pondered. Anakin made a gurgle noise
from her lap in response.

"That's what I was thinking too," said Luke.

"Yeah, Leia don't worry about it, aren't you supposed to be on vacation? Things will be fine."

As Leia was about to respond they all felt small cry in the Force. "Oh shoot, its Jacen. He
scared."

"Why?" asked Mara.

"Oh, he's sleeping in a new place. I better calm him down. Here, would you take him for a
minute?" Leia asked as she handed Anakin to Mara. Without really given the opportunity to say
yes or no, she responded meekly with "Um, okay."

After holding him in the air for a few seconds she unsurely brought him to her lap. He wiggled and
squirmed and grabbed at her face and hair. Mara back away as much as she could while still holding him.
Luke watched Mara with an odd mixture of concern and amusement. "He's just curious about you
Mara." He tried to explain. "Just relax and lethimget used to you."

"Okay, I'm just not used to babies." She relaxed a little bit while Anakin explored. Mara let
him touch her face and gave him a lock of hair to play with. His chubby little hands took to it right away
as he fisted it and got it caught in his little fingers. "He's rather a good baby." She declared.
"Yes he is," Luke replied. He watched as Mara put her finger into Anacin's little hand and the baby
fisted it. "He seems to like you too."

"I agree, do you agree little guy?" She said in a very un-Mara like voice. Anakin gurgled. "Well
I guess that settles it. Hey you know Skywalker, this rather looks like you. He's got your chin," she bent
and kissed the babies chin. "Your eyes," she kissed the little babies cheek bone. "And your hair color."

She kissed the top of his head. Anakin basked in the attention he was getting from the beauty that was hold him. "I guess that means you'll end up having one that looks just like Leia. Huh Anakin, a cousin that
looks just like your Mommy." She finished in the high-pitched voice again, Anakin cooed in agreement Luke started laughing and Leia entered with a query.

"What did I miss?"

"Well Mara and Anakin were getting to knoweachother. They decided that because you had one that
looked like me, I should have one that looks like you." Luke explained.

"I think that's fair," Leia nodded as she

sat. "Do you want me to take him?"

"No, I got it." Mara responded. They all settled in again and continued talking about the very
serious subject favorite restaurants on various planets and what funny events are better left
forgotten. Luke and Leia talked for hours before they noticed that they were they only ones in the room
making noise.

They looked to their friend and the sight almost melted their hearts. Mara was gently rocking
sided to side as Anakin layer on her torso sound asleep. "He fell asleep on me." Mara whispered, not
sure what to do.

"Oh, I'll take him to bed." Leia said, she stood to reach for him, but Mara objected.

"Oh it's fine, I can do it. Was ready to hit the sack anyway. I just don't know how to stand
up." She explained.

Leia quietly chuckled to herself as she helped Mara stand without waking the baby. "Just lay
him on his back in the crib and put the inky in his mouth. He'll be fine." She instructed.

"Okay, thanks." She started for the door.

"Are you sure you can handle that?" Luke asked, genuinely wondering if she could.
Mara turned and glared at him, through the Force he could feel dampen down the various unhealthy
emotions toward him that would have started Anakincrying. "I think I can handle a small child farmboy,

if you will excuse me, I'm going to turn in for the night. I'll see you in the morning Leia." She turn
and walked out the door. Luke flinched. He expected her to say something condemning and scathing, he
wasn't expecting to sound hurt. Or what past for hurt where Mara was concerned.

"Luke, that was mean. If you were joking it would have been funny, you actually thought that
she couldn't handle simply putting a baby to bed? Do you even realize how that's got to hurt, no you
wouldn't, because you're a man." Before she could continue Luke interrupted.

"What does being a man have to do with anything? What are you talking about? And why did
the last five minutes just happen?" He was confused." Luke, listen, Mara is a woman, and you just
put her into question by doubting one of her baser instincts, to mother. She may not understand that
that was why she was so hurt, but that's why. You also doubted her ability to do anything she put her
mind to, and you of all should know that she can do anything she sets her mind to. She knows that you
should know that, the fact that you of all people doubted it also put her into question. Tomorrow
morning apologize." Leia looked at him sternly. Head that lost boy from Tatooine look on his face.

"But, but..."

"No buts, just do it. Now, how's that big plan coming along?" She changed the subject.

Luke just went with it. "Great, TalonKarrde has the diversion worked out and will be
arriving the morning of, while she's gone. Corran admiral will be arriving in the afternoon. Lando and
Booster will come when ever they do, I just told them not to be early. Gents coming with Wedge, they
should arrive just before. Tionne, Steen and Kyp retaking care of decorations while Artoo and Kam hide the ships so she doesn't see them when she lands. She
should arrive back here a little after dark, and then'surprize'."

"Wow. And you've managed to keep her from finding out, good job."

"Hasn't been easy," Luke sighed. "I don't know, normally I would've guessed she would've caught
on by now, but she's been so not paranoid and just relaxed. She not looking for things to go wrong any
more."

"I noticed that to, the way she was with the baby, she was just a regular person, not a smuggler or
an assassin. She's mellow, still sassy, but mellow. Can't quite place it. She still herself..."

"Just more comfortable in her own skin."

Luke finished for her.

"Yeah. So anyway, did it come?"

"Yep."

"And?"

"It's beautiful, absolutely perfect..."

To be continued

I know it doesn't seem to be going anywhere, but it is, I promise.

Okay, here's the next part, hopefully better than the first.

Garden: Part Two

Mara entered orbit and waited for the window of landing to open. Though a break from the oppressive
heat of Yavin 4's summer was nice, she really wanted to sleep in her own bed and get back to her old
routine. 'Mara,' she thought to herself, 'You restarting to settle.' It bothered her a little bit
that it didn't bother so much. Before she returned to Sky walker's academy, she felt useless if she wasn't constantly going. The going was her life, she had been going since she was tiny. Now the going felt
more like an interruption because her life wasn't based on that anymore.

Why Karrde had asked her to handle this deal she couldn't fathom, any of close associates could have
done. Why she agreed to she didn't know either, he could have least picked something more interesting former to do. All well, it only took a week, and at least Karrde could trust that it was done right.
She called down to the moon and got her clearance. As she started the landing cycle she felt
something odd. She noticed some strange things too.Skywalker wasn't out here to greet her, which he
normally was for any landing ship. There were no students relaxing in the relative cool of dusk. Hmm.
She couldn't here that childlike noises of the Solo children, which she was sure were still there because
she didn't feel an absence.

Exiting the tiny shuttle she made her way to the temple and up to the grand chamber, where she was sure
she felt something strange. The feeling got stronger and stronger the closer she got to her destination.
When she reached the corridor she began to creep, making no noise at all. She slowly rounded the wall
into the chamber when...

"SURPRISE!" Everyone shouted and jumped from behind decorated benches and tables, holding presence or raising glasses of Champaign in the air. Mara
herself was in a classic fighting stance until everyone yell again. "Happy Birthday!" She relaxed
and started laughing for lack of anything better to-do.

Karrde came up first and gave her a hug that was between friendly and fatherly with a present in his
hand. Mara hugged him back, which he was not expecting, and he said in her ear, "Happy Birthday
Mara." He handed her the wrapped gift as he backed away.

"I, I, I don't know... How did you know it was my birthday, even I forgot about it. Wow. How did you
all know it was my birthday?"

"A couple of years ago somebody was giving you flack about something, I heard you grumbled, "not
today, it my birthday, I'll consider you shutting up gift." I wrote the date." Karrde explained.
Everyone around who heard the story started laughing, even Mara.

"Sure sounds like a Mara comment to me." Carronade and laughed.

"Ha ha. Poor guy I said that to. But you couldn't have planned this without me knowing, only...
Skywalker, where are you?" She hollered. Everyone stepped back.

Luke stepped forward from the back of the crowd, looking a little nervous. "Mara, I..."

"You planned this whole thing?" Her voice took on an interrogating tone. Luke gulped and nodded.
"You got me off the planet while everyone showed up didn't you?" He nodded again. "And everyone here was a conspirator huh?" Luke led everyone in nodding as he glared around the room. She looked back at Luke and looked him square in the eye. "You kept this from
me?" she asked.

"Mara, I," he was interrupted when he saw her smile. It wasn't a smirk or a tired resigned smile,
it was a bright, joyful, grateful smile that made her deep green eyes twinkle and turned her into the most
beautiful woman in the galaxy. All he could do was smile back. He'd never seen this smile before, he
wondered how many more he hadn't seen yet.

"Skywalker, you should've seen the look on your face," she laughed out, practically doubling over.
Luke started laughing with her. The room relaxed and the party started.

Mara rounded the room and got hugged by everybody. It was nice but new, she wasn't used to
this much affection. When Leia hugged her, they transferred Anakin from his mother's arms to Mara's
and she continued on with the excited baby. She went through everyone, Booster, Mirax, the Jedi students, Aves, Corran, the toddler twins, even Lando. They all got the rare opportunity to hug Mara Jade.

When she reached the Jedi Master she wrapped her free arm around his neck and held him as close as she could and tried to not to start crying. Luke at a loss for what to do put his arms around her and his
nephew.

"Thank you so much Luke. I've never had everyone cared about in the same room before. Thank you."
She whispered in his ear.

"You just called me Luke," he whispered back.

"Huh?" she pulled back slightly and looked up at
him.

"Never mind, you're welcome, it was my pleasure. You deserved a big party. Didn't she Anakin?" he
tickled the baby and let them go.

"How 'bout some a that cake?" one of the smugglers piped.

"Cake?" Mara repeated.

"Yes cake." Luke assured. He led to the table that held a huge cake the said "Happy Birthday Mara"
in red icing and had frosting flowers of many colors covering the rest of the cake surface.

"Aren't there supposed to be candles?" Land asked.

Everyone started to question. "No candles?"

"Yeah Luke, where are the candles?" "How could thereby no candles?"

Mara looked quizzically at Luke. What are theytalkign about? What candles?"

Leia stepped forward before Luke could answer." There is supposed to be one candle on the cake for
every year you've been alive."

"I'm sorry Mara, I didn't think they'd be a big deal. Mara looked back to Luke.

"Well it's a beautiful cake." Luke stared at the ground a little pout. She stepped to him and grabbed
his hand. "Hey Skywalker, it's alright. I didn't even know cake was involved in one of these things.
Everything is perfect, you did more than you needed to, so let's dig into this thing." She again for him
and watched his own face light up as the crowd cheered for cake.

Mara cut the cake as best she could with the babying arms. The frosting that ended up on his tiny hand
ended up in hair, she didn't really care. Everyone sat eating and drinking, sharing there favorite 'Mara'
story. Mostly involving her beating up somebody, or tricking somebody, or some snappy comment she made to somebody to put them in their place.

Luke watched and listened as people told their stories and Mara laughed or covered her eyes in
disbelief or both. He knew the Mara they were talking about, he was sitting right next to her, but she
seemed like a completely different person laughing about a stranger. He laughed every once in while whence bestowed her classic snaps on somebody, but they were good natured now. Always kindness being them. She was shining, and her brightness made him happier than he'd remember being in a long time, because he helped cause it. He wanted to make her this happy althea time if he could.

"Alright Luke, it's your turn." Han slapped Luke's knee to get his attention.

"Huh? Oh right, my favorite Mara moment. Hmm."He leaned back and rubbed his chin in mock
concentration. "Let's see."

"Oh no, this is going to be awful," he heard from beside him.

He stretched his arm behind Mara, resting on tieback of the bench. He turned and leaned a little
closer so he could look her straight in the eye. The green orbs were daring him to share one of the many
horror stories they knew he had. When she didn't flinch away from his nearness, he decided to share a story that let people see her like he saw her.

"I will always remember the time when Mara went out into jungle with wheel barrel and came back hours
later, covered head to toe with dirt. I mean sticks in her hair and everything. She came back with that
thing full of all the flowers and pretty plants she could get her hands on. Then she made a mess of the
dining hall making hundreds of bouquets for hours. Came into the dining hall the next morning, and there
was Mara, asleep at a table with her flowers. I woke her so she could go to her room, and then she left metro clean up." Luke finished his story and everyone chuckled. Even Mara.

"Oh my, Skywalker. Are trying to ruin my reputation," she joked. She gently elbowed him in the
ribs. He saw her shy smile before she turned her face into his shoulder to hide her embarrassment.
"Hey Mara, all you need now is a white picket fence and little white house, pop out a couple of
kids." Aves joked. Luke could've hit him for provoking Mara to move.

"Well Aves, at least somebody would want to make babies with me." She retorted, full of ice.

"Oh, you got burned man!" Corran exclaimed.

Mara listened to everyone laugh and make fun fives before she shot another question to Luke, who
seemed to have claimed her for the time being. "So doe get to open the presence now?"

There were so many presence she didn't know whereto start, Luke had to help her because one of her
hands was used to steady the happily perched Anakin.

Everyone got her wonderful gifts. Talon got her anew shuttle, wow; Corran and Mira got her something
that made her blush and hide it right away so no one would see it; Booster gave her a beautiful royal blue
silk robe; Lando gave her the most beautiful vase she'd seen since her days with the Emperor.
Her favorite buy far was the present that the students at the academy and her associates gave her
jointly: a karaoke machine. "Oh my, this is so great. It's perfect! I just love it. Let's hook it up and
get some music in here." She passed off the baby total on, who was on the other side of her, and went to
the nearest power port to plug in her new toy.

She went to the stage and started singing along to a popular dance song that she didn't know very
well. Everyone started dancing and when the song was over she handed the microphone over. Everyone took turns, going through every genre of music there wizen a little Huttese that sounded awful. A couple of the guys started to sing a slower song, though they couldn't carry a tune for the life of them.

Luke caught her around the waste as was looking through the selection book again. "Come on Miss Jade, let's dance." Caught off guard she didn't respond until they already swaying to the awful music along
with everyone else, including the singer who had hade little too much Champaign.

"Whatever you say Master Skywalker." Mara outlooks straight into his chest for a minute before she
spoke again. "Luke, thank you so much." The sound of his name from her lips again floored him. He looked down at her, thinking that she was shorter than he
thought she was in the back of his head, he hugged her long and hard and kissed the top of her head.

"Mara, you deserved a party. You deserved to everyone special to you together for your birthday. I
was just lucky enough to give it to you. You have no idea what making you happy means to me." Luke
surprised himself and Mara with his last statement, but he meant it.

Not sure how to respond to such emotion she just nodded and and stared at his chest some more. "You
haven't sung yet," she declared suddenly.

"Huh?"

She beamed up at him. "You haven't sung yetFarmboy, everybody else did, you have to too." As if
conspiring against him, the men stopped singing andthe song ended. Mara stepped away and flashed him hermost devious smile, one he knew very well, and headed
for the stage.

"Alright, who wants to sing a duet with me?" sheasked over the mic. Everyone raised their hands
except for one shy Jedi Master. Mara spotted him andpointed straight at him, everyone turned and looked athim. "Come on Farmboy, don't be shy." She grinnedhalf sweetly half cunningly as she crooked her fingerand beconed him to the stage. He smile right back ather and shook his, never taken his eyes away fromhers.

In the background everyone urged him on, but hedidn't budge. From the stage Mara gave a pouty
pleading look that took all of his strength to deny.He shook his head again and the crowd got louder.
When that didn't work Mara stepped off the stage andstarted stalking toward the steadfast Jedi.

The look on her face was playfully determined,and absolutely beautiful. Her walk was almost
seductive. Luke had to focus to keep his breathsteady. When she got to him she reached out and
grabbed a fistful of his shirt. She walk backwardstoward the stage, never braking eye contact with her
prey. Everyone cheared as Luke got on the stage.Leia tosseed Mara the other microphone she, flipped it
on and held it out to Luke, and raised her eyebrows,silently daring him to take it.

Beyond denying her anything she wanted at this
point, Luke took it and shook his head."Madam Cheif of State, if you be so kind as start
the music." Mara asked. Luke felt a silentcommunication between the two women through the Force,
they were laughing at him.

"Of course, it would be my pleasure."

"Why thank you."

*This is not funny you two*

*Yes it is* they replied back. Luke shook hishead again. As the music started everyone started
chanting "Luke, Luke, Luke, Luke."

With nothing left to do he started singing alongwith the song. He and Mara traded off on verses
according to what the holo said. It turned out to berather sensual song though is was set in a fast dance
pace, promoting him to dance and sing with Jade in away he never even considered before. They had a greattime playing off eachother as the music went on.

At the end of the song every one clapped andwhistled. Mara hugged him and gave him an unexpected
kiss on the cheek. "Luke, that was fantastic, Ididn't know you could sing, nice moves by the way.
You are deffinately doing that in every bar we go intofrom now on." Mara decided.

"Yeah Luke, you should give up this Jedi gig andgo into entertainment." Han joked.

Luke was feeling rather embarrassed over what he'djust done with Mara in front a lot of people that he
all knew. So he did the only manly thing and coveredit up. "Well, when dancing with a babe like that..."

Hours later Han, Luke, Mara and a few others werecleaning the mess they had all made of the grand
chamber. Tiny whisps of light hit the west wall asthe sun started to sneak in from the east windows.
"Hey Kid, let's finish this tomorrow and hit the hay,I'm beat." Han said as put a stack of dirty plates on
a cart.

"Good idea Han, I'm practically sleep walking.By the way, I think I proved other ways of killing
your boredom besides almost getting yourself killed."Han laughed. "Okay, thanks for the help everyone, butlet's finish this tomorrow." Luke announced.

Everyone dropped what they were doing and just left.Luke and Han watched and started laughing.
"You're kid, that was one hell of a party." Hanclapped on the back and headed out of the room,
passing Mara on her way back from the kitchen. "HappyBirthday Mara," he said tiredly.

"Thanks Solo, kiss the kids good morning for me,"she responded.

"Sure thing."

Mara walked to the Jedi standing alone in thehuge stone room. "Are we calling it a night?"

"Yeah, we can finish cleaning up this mess in themorning."

Mara looked up to the light streams. "I think itis morning," she said, it was supposed to be
sarcastic, but it was a yawn instead.

"Yeah, I think so too." He and Mara sat togetheron one of the benches in silence for a few minutes.

"You think you're up for one more present?" He askedquietly.

Mara turned her head and looked at him. "Did Imiss one?"

"Nope, this one is not in the room, I have totake you to it." He explained.

"Skywalker, you've done enough, with the party ineverything, besides, I'm way to tired to walk anywhere," she complained.

"Do not give me that, I've seen you walk from oneend of a planet to another in a week on ten minutes
sleep. Let's go miss Jade." He grabbed her hand ashe stood and led her out of the temple. "I need to
blindfold you." He stated as he pulled a dark stripof cloth from his pocket.

"Oh no, Skywalker. I need to see where I'm beingtaken to," she protested, backing away.

"Come on Mara, it's not that far. I'll beleading you the whole way." She shook her head.
"No way, I'll just close my eyes when we get towhere ever you're taking me." She tried to
compromise.

"That'll ruin the whole effect of the surprizeand the gift. Please Mara." She seemed to consider
it, but Luke could feel her unsurity. "Trust me.It's not that far, besides, I let you get me on
stage."

"Oh, all right, but I better not fall in or overanything."

"Great!" Luke turned her around and secured theblind fold over her tired eyes. He took his hand and
started to lead. He felt Mara reach out with theForce to feel her way. "No fare Mara, you can figure
it out if you do that. Relax. Trust me."

"Alright," instead reaching out she graspedfirmly on to his presence. As he instructed her to
step over logs and rocks and warned over dippes in theground, he held on tight to her hand. He seemed
really excited over this gift. "Luke?"

"Yeah."

"How long have you been waiting to give me this?"

"Well, I thought of it a couple of months ago,and it arrived about two weeks ago. A long time."
"How did you keep it hidden from me for so long?"

She heard laugh really quietly, they stepped overanother log.

"I had to not think about it everytime you camein sight. It was tough."

"Well you did a good job," she assured him. "Ihad no idea. "What about everyone else?"

"Kam and Leia were the only ones who knew,because I didn't want anyone to let it slip." Luke
slowed and stopped. He faced her away from the giftand took of the blind fold.

"That was quick," Mara said and looked around.

"Why are we here?" She asked. She turned to questionLuke who she could feel behind her. Directly behindher. He stepped aside and watched her face light up.
His heart just melted as she rushed forward inabsolute joy.

"Oh Luke, it's just perfect. I love it so much,thank you." She turned around and hugged him hard.
"Thank you so much, oh my. It's just wonderful." Shelet go and back to it.

The gift was a huge marble bench, engraved withthe silouhettes of flowers and vines all over. On the
seat the word's "Mara's Garden" were carved in broadflat lettering, surrounded by the same flowers and
vines that covered the rest of the bench. On theinside of each oversized arm rest an ignited
lightsaber was carved, disigned to entertwine with theother floral carvings. With the sun barely peaking
through into her secret garden she could hardley seethem, so she felt them with her hands. She circled to
look at the outside of the bench. Luke watchedintently, this was what he was waiting for weeks for.
He heard her slight gasp as her hand flew to mouth,she looked up from her crouching position by the
outside of the left arm rest. She looked up at him,near tears. Her other hands went to touch the letter
she fund there as she began to read out loud.

"Dear Mara,
This garden is beautiful, it blooms with such
life. However it pales in comparison to you.
Watching you shine with life is the greatest joy I've
ever had. No matter what happens, your garden will be
here for you, as will I.
Love Luke."

It was written rather small, hidden amongst theother carvings, but it where they both would always
see it, like a special secret. Luke felt a tear ofhis own travel down his cheek as he watched her watch
him.

He held his hands to her, she took them and stoodinto him, they held eachother for a long time.

Eventually they sat down on Mara's new bench and dosedoff leaning against eachother.

To be continued.
I hope you all liked it. Not too cheesy I hope.

=====
crys

Declaimer: All these characters belong to actual writers and creators of the Stars Wars universe, of which I am not a member. Big Up to Lucas and Zhan.

Garden Part three

Mara woke to the loud sound of a strange bird singing off key. It was a grating sound that made one want to hit the offending noisemaker with a rock, or a blaster bolt. The noise seemed to wake up another as well.

"I know as a Jedi I'm supposed to cherish all life, but right now I wouldn't against you nailing that damn bird with a shot." Mara removed her head from Luke's shoulder and sat up. The hangover hit about then and she leaned over with her head between her knees.

"Skywalker, I'd love to comply with your request, but I think I'm seeing triple of everything right now and I wouldn't know which to aim for."

"The one in the middle," he replied, holding is hand over his eyes.

"What time do you think it is?" Came from the knees.

"Late, the sun is too damn bright for it to be low." He completely covered his eyes to block out all sun.
"Damn sun."

"You think the party was worth it?"

"Hell yeah, best party I've ever been to, and it was for me, which makes it even better. Thank you, but since you threw the party, I guess that means I get to blame the after effects on you." She reached up and patted him on the knee, and let her hand fall back to the ground.

"Hey, I didn't put the glass to your mouth. Besides I'm hung over too, be nice."

"You know Luke, I've been in the gullet of death with you many a time and never felt better, we party together and I feel like nothing would be better than crawling into a coffin and dying."

"I thought you could hold your liquor, you have to drink way more than that all the time, you're a smuggler. In fact, I've seen you go more rounds than that and be perfectly fine."

"I know, must have been the cake, that thing was huge, and between the two of us we must have eaten half of it."

"Yeah, the cake, it was damn good cake though huh?"

"Yeah, cake. Think there's any left?" She perked.

"Maybe."

"Think we can make it back to the temple?"

"If we can keep each other balanced, we can make it."

Mara sat up straight again, very slowly, put one hand on Luke's thigh and one on the bench seat. She carefully stood herself up as every muscle in her body threatened to rebel against her and make her sit again. When she was sure she was steady she reached out to her companion. Luke took her hand and placed the other on the armrest of the bench, then he to slowly propelled himself into a standing position. They kept a grip on each other and stumbled back to the temple for more glutens' punishment.

With two un touched pieces of left over cake and a half gone pot of caf, Luke and Mara sat in the mess hall with the rest of the rooms occupants also try and recover from last nights birthday bash. Mara watched the people come and go getting caf and small bite of breakfast, or just sat there and talked, or didn't talk. The Solo's, who were in the same shape they were in, were trying to deal with their perfectly vibrant children proved to be quite entertaining.

Luke watched Mara. He watched her eyes as they gazed over the room, settling here and there. He followed the mug of caf as it went to her lips at regular intervals. Memorized the shape of her hand as cheek leaned against it. Timed his breathing with her own. Her serenity absolutely mesmerized him. Before now she was constantly moving and on the look out. She was a hard and calculating person, she had to be to survive. He absolutely admired her for it, because she had never lost her integrity, or sense of self through all the hell she kept going through. But now, she was calm, almost content. It made him feel good and warm all over to see her this way.

"I am." She suddenly spoke, breaking him out of his trance. He brought himself to focus and found her looking at him and smiling.

"You are what?" A little confused.

She smiled even bigger. "I'm really content. I didn't know there was life like this, I always assumed it was running and chasing. It seemed people spent their lives avoiding death. I've spent the first 27 years of my life avoiding death. I came into 28 living life, I like that much better. I can stop and just sit without wondering who's around the corner, or what the best price for whatever the hell it is that week I'm buying. I can go to bed at night and not wonder if somebody bugged the room. It was weird as hell at first, but it's nice now."

"I can feel it, you're peaceful. I like it, it suits you."

Mara brought her hand from her check and rested it on Luke's. "Thank you, I really love it."
"Well the students do a lot of the work, it's there home too so I…"

"No I mean my gift." She cut him off. "I really love it. Thank you." Luke couldn't respond because her wonderful smile left him with a lot to say but with few recourses to say them. He opened his mouth, shut it, and grinned. He laced his fingers with hers and enjoyed the rest of his caf and afternoon.

TBC…

Okay this was short, not much plot to this little section, sorry all... more to come

crys