Hey all,
This is a round robin that the three evil writers (Sherry, Una,
Angela) wrote a few weeks ago. This was posted in another group so
if I miss deleting any comments in the midst of the fic, forgive me
and also, we were writing so quickly that we didn't correct mistakes
so please ignore them :)
And a final warning....this is a NC-17 fic!!!!! And we three love
writing wacky fic so beware :)
Chapters are labeled by author and please let us know if you like
it :) There is a total of 22 chapters to this RR.

Returning
Part 1/22
(by Sherry)

Luke paced around the dingy workshop nervously. His eyes stayed
glued to the floor where he watched his boots scuff the wooden,
uneven floor. The Jedi Master was off in his own little world and
wasn't paying attention to any of them or anything going on around
him. It was unusual for Luke to show such introverted behavior and
it unnerved everyone, especially Leia who had accompanied him on
this most unexpected trip.

She sat in the corner of the room and watched her brother closely.
Leia couldn't remember a time when she had seen Luke this nervous
and...scared was the only way she could describe him. Luke Skywalker
was afraid of something and none of them could figure it out even
though they knew it had only started with the news of an unexpected
discovery. It had only been two days ago when Leia had received the
news that while carrying out her new program of examining all
Imperial prisons, two people had been identified as not being
prisoners but as simple farmers. Two farmers that had made it
necessary to Luke to meet the transport on Tatooine to see them for
himself. Leia watched Luke for another moment before turning to
look at the woman who was seated beside her, the woman that Luke
seemed to never go anywhere without anymore.

"Mara, you feel it to don't you?" She asked softly.

Mara Jade looked at her one time nemesis then slowly nodded. She
had been as surprised as the rest when the news had been delivered
about the mistakenly imprisoned couple but even more surprising had
been Luke's behavior since he had found out. "I don't understand
why he's reacting this way. I would think that he would be thrilled
to have his aunt and uncle back in his life but...all I sense from him
where Owen is concerned is anger...deep anger and hurt."

She and Leia stared at each other a moment, both seeing the worry in
the others eyes. The contact was finally broken as their hosts
entered the small room. Luke had requested that he meet his
guardians someplace familiar so Leia had arranged to do just that.

Mara and Leia both looked up when Fixer and Camie approached. They
hadn't been cooperative when the chief of state had requested to use
their small shop for the meeting place but a generous contribution
of credits had changed all that.

Fixer drew them two chairs up to the table and the two sat down.
Fixer glanced at Luke and laughed cynically at his behavior.

"Wormie seems to be getting worked up good now. Wondered if it was
ever going to bother him."

Leia sat up straighter, Fixer's words jarring her out of her own
musings. "If what was going to bother him?"

Fixer looked at the small woman as if she were on spice. "You're
kidding right?"

Leia was not in the mood to mince words with the burly man. He was
not on her list of favorite people. Not that she minded spending
credits to be able to meet Beru and Owen here, she just genuinely
disliked the man.

"Fixer, please. If you know why Luke is so agitated, then tell us,"
the less than glamorous diplomat insisted.

"Yes," Han's hands clamped down on the big man's shoulders as he
came up behind him, "please do."

Fixer looked around at Wormie's new friends. To be heroes and
politicians, they sure seemed dense and they sure didn't seem to
know anything about the man they all claimed to be related to or
friends with.

"He's about to see his aunt and uncle again. The ones he thought
had died quite a few years ago." Fixer still found it strange that
the two had suddenly been found and resurfaced after such a long
time.

Han let go of Fixer and walked around to Leia's side of the
table. "We know that, Fixer."

Camie looked at Han then at Leia. "Luke never told you about his
aunt and uncle did he?" Her voice was soft and they had to strain to
hear her.

Leia was surprised by the question. "He didn't talk about them
much. It was a very painful subject for him."

Fixer snorted. "I bet it was."

This time Mara reacted. She leaned across the table, green eyes
blazing. "What the hell is that suppose to mean?"

Fixer glared back at her and Han cleared his throat. "You have no
idea who you're messing with Fixer. You'd best answer the lady."

"I'm not afraid of some lady-"

He immediately shut up when he felt the blaster press against his
protruding middle section. Leia laughed at the look on his
face. "Well, I'm guessing you just meet her blaster... wonder where
the other one is pointed?"

Camie grabbed Fixer's arm. "Maybe it would be best if we cleaned up
the storeroom."

Fixer started to stand but stopped when they all heard the safety
being released on Mara's blaster. "As soon as you explain your
comment."

Fixer took a deep breath. "Look, if wormie-"

The blaster dug deeper into Fixer's belly. "His name is Luke."
Mara's voice had a cold edge to it that was hard to ignore. Fixer
nodded and continued.

"If Luke didn't talk about his past then I shouldn't." Mara raised
an eyebrow at his sudden loyalty to Luke.

Fixer sighed "I just don't think he'll be so happy to see Owen."

Mara leaned back and reholstered her blaster. "But you won't say
why?"

Camie laid her hand on her husband's arm. "Look, we don't know
anything. It's just that when we were growing up, none of us liked
Owen very well. Not even Luke."

Leia scooted her chair closer to Mara as Han pulled one over to sit
beside her. Leia looked at Camie. "You're saying that Owen Lars
wasn't a very nice person...to Luke."

"To anyone...but it had to have been worse for Luke. He lived with the
man."

Fixer stood and pulled Camie with him. "It just seemed like Owen
made Luke very unhappy...that's all we know."

They walked back toward the storage room and Leia shook her
head. "I don't like this."

Han was watching Mara. She had been quiet and was staring intently
at Luke. Her gaze met Han's and he knew she was thinking the same
thing.

"Neither do I," he mumbled.

Mara only half listened as Leia and Han continued to quietly discuss
Luke's aunt and uncle. With a heavy sigh, she finally stood and
walked over to her best friend. Luke had stopped pacing and was
leaned up against the wall staring off into space. He looked at Mara
as she approached. He smiled warmly when she handed him a steaming
cup.

"I can't see why you would want to drink this when it's hot enough
to melt outside but here you go."

Luke smiled even more and took the offered cup. He knew Mara loved
the drink as much as he did. He took a small sip and held the cup
still while she did the same.

"Dang Skywalker, that's hot."

"You made it, you should know it is."

Mara exhaled through her mouth several times and Luke laughed at her
antics.
Mara tried to glare at him but ended up laughing. "Glad to hear you
laugh Jedi...I was getting worried about you."

Luke watched her closely as he took another sip. He offered her
another but she held up her hand. "No thanks. I like being able to
feel my tongue."

Luke started to reply but a finger in his face stopped him. "Don't
even say it Skywalker."

Again, Luke smiled broadly. "Sorry I've been moody. It just feels
strange."

"It must. I know I sure wouldn't be ecstatic if Palpy suddenly
showed up alive."

The color drained from Luke's face slightly. "That's not funny
Mara."

She laid her hand on his arm. "It wasn't supposed to be. Tell me
about them. Tell me what your aunt and uncle were like, or should I
say what they are like?"

Luke sipped his hot chocolate and shrugged. "There's not much to
say."

"Your aunt Beru, did she tell you bedtime stories?"

Luke chuckled softly. "No, she mostly listened while I told her
stories."

Mara could easily imagine Luke rattling off tales. "What kind of
stories?"

Luke sighed. "Stories of battles in the stars and what other planets
looked like. The things that little kids imaginations are made of."

Mara watched him as he sipped his hot chocolate.

"What about your uncle Owen? Did you tell him stories?"

She saw the clouded look come over his face although he tried to
hide it. Mara would normally have backed off from the subject but
Owen would be here soon. Luke would have to face the uncle he had
thought dead for so many years.

"Luke, you don't like your uncle very much, do you?"

Luke downed the rest of his drink. "Thanks for the hot chocolate
Mara."

He started to walk away but she grabbed him by the arm and stepped
infront of him. Luke was surprised by her actions. "Don't hide from
me Skywalker. We've been through to much for you not to trust me."

Luke sighed. "I do trust you...more that anyone else." He sat the
empty cup down on a nearby shelf and pulled her close for a hug.
This time his actions surprised Mara. She was slowly growing used
to Luke's affectionate ways but he had never infringed upon her this
way before.

Luke felt her uncertainty then she hugged him back. Mara shuddered
when he whispered in her ear. "I wish he were still dead."

He squeezed her tightly once more then stepped away. Mara could
only look at him in stunned disbelief as he walked back into the
small kitchen area.

Over an hour later, Han looked around the room and wished there was
something he could do to relieve some of the tension. Leia was
sitting at the table with Camie. Both were silent and seemed to be
in their own worlds. Fixer and another friend of Luke's, Deak, were
arguing over a skyhopper part they had disassembled on a table near
where the ladies were seated.

Han's gaze fell on Mara who was leaned against the wall. Luke sat
directly in front of her in a straight back chair. He was leaned
over with his elbows on his knees. Han smiled faintly. Mara
resembled a guard the way she was behind Luke, leaned against the
wall with her arms folded. Most people would think it was a natural
stance but Han knew better. Her arms were folded and one hand was
dangling near her lightsaber while the other was close to the
blaster strapped to her upper arm. Han had started to walk closer
to them when the door opened. Leia immediately jumped to her feet
and Han turned to face the door. Mara straightened and Luke slowly
stood.

Two new republic officials came through the door. They nodded to
the Chief of State but didn't stop until they were in front of
Luke. "Master Skywalker, the two individuals you inquired about are
being brought over."

Luke took a deep breath. "Thank you gentlemen."

Leia meet the two men as they neared the exit and also thanked them
for their help and for letting them know.

Mara stepped forward and let her forehead rest against Luke's back,
somehow knowing that Luke needed her. *We're all here for you,
Skywalker.*

*Promise me you will be, Mara.* He twisted his head sideways to
glance back at her as best he could.

Mara was startled enough to raise her head up. "Luke?"

She stepped up beside him and he turned sad eyes toward her. "I
feel like I'm drowning."

"We won't let you drown...none of us will."

He started to reply but the door opened again. Luke was the last
one to look when his aunt and uncle stepped into the room. Luke was
thankful he was in the opposite corner of the room than the door.
He stepped backwards a bit, wishing he could just disappear
altogether.

Leia saw the new arrival's uneasiness and extended her hand towards
them. She purposely stepped sideways so they would turn toward her
and away from the rest of the room. "You are Owen and Beru Lars?"

The man nodded and the woman was surprised. "Yes, how do you know
us?"

Leia took a deep breath and tried to figure out how to make this
easier on her brother. "I am the Chief of State of the new
republic."

The man spoke finally; his voice was harsh and unbelieving. "The
new republic? That's the new word for the empire?"

Leia gave him her best diplomatic smile. "No sir, the new republic
defeated the empire. We have tried to restore peace and order
around the galaxy."

The woman turned noticeably paler. Han pulled a chair over for her
while he eyed Luke. The Jedi watched intently but made no move to
join them. Leia had skillfully maneuvered so that his aunt and
uncle would not see him in the corner.

Beru Lars sank into the chair and took a long, shaky breath. "The
empire has been defeated?"

"Yes ma'm." Leia cleared her voice. "I know this must be hard for
the two of you. Things have changed drastically since...since you
were imprisoned."

The man shook his head. "The empire gone, what of the Emperor and
Vader."

Leia inhaled sharply when she felt anger course through Luke at the
mention of his father. She wanted so badly to look at her brother
but couldn't risk them seeing him before he was ready.

"They both were killed in the war."

Owen laughed and Beru looked up at him. "Owen, death is not funny."

"They finally got theirs Beru and we missed it." The weathered man
snorted in reply.

Luke took a step forward and Leia gave him a quick glance while his
former guardians were looking at each other. She saw Mara step in
front of Luke as he looked on with hollow eyes.

Leia just wanted this over with and Luke off this planet. "Perhaps I
should introduce myself."

Owen was taken back. "You said you were the Chief of State."

"I am. I just meant that I didn't tell you my name." Leia knew she
couldn't put this off any longer. The tension in this room was
growing by the minute.

Han let out a long sigh and prepared himself for the fallout. Leia
glanced at him and he nodded.

"My name, " Leia looked back and forth between Beru and Owen, " is
Leia." They still showed no signs of recognition. "My name is Leia
Organa-Skywalker Solo."
She said it softly as Beru's hand flew to her mouth.

"Leia...oh my god." The woman's eyes were wide in wonder and everyone
was glad that she was already sitting down.

Owen wasn't sure what to say. If she was using the name Skywalker,
she had to know the truth. Leia looked at her proposed
uncle. "Yes, I know the truth."

This time Owen did react. He took a step backward as he realized
that she had read his thoughts. Leia took another deep breath.

"I didn't intentionally read your thoughts. It's just that you're
broadcasting them very loudly."

Beru slowly stood up. "You also have...a gift."

"I am a Jedi Knight, as my father and brother were before me." Leia
couldn't help but feel the swell of pride from Luke and even Han.

Both of Luke's relatives stared at her. Beru was
whispering. "Brother...Luke is alive."

Now it was Leia's turn to feel proud. "My brother is alive and
doing wonderfully."

Beru was trying to ask more but her emotions were getting the best
of her. Mara squeezed Luke's arm one last time then he stepped away
from her, making slow progress toward his sister, an aunt that he
was overjoyed to see again and an uncle whose very presence
shattered the calmness that Luke was legendary for.

The gasps of both Beru and Owen echoed thru the shop as Luke stepped
into view, not knowing what to expect and wishing he were anywhere
but in the room with his uncle once again.

............Angela is next!......................

Come on you guys...this RR is worth getting into!!!!!!

Returning
Part 2
(Angela)

Luke did not know what to do as he watched the pair continue to stare
at him. His skin was crawling and it took everything he had to
continue blocking the thoughts pouring off of them. He was curious
as to what they were thinking, but he was barely holding himself
together as it was.

Owen stepped closer and Luke stood stalk still. He could feel his
heartbeat begin to race, and he balled his fists to keep his hands
from trembling. But when Owen touched his arm it was more then Luke
could handle. He wrenched his arm away trying to control the impulse
to run. Closing his eyes he worked to pull himself together.
Falling apart here was not going to help. He had asked for this
meeting so that he could confront his past and to see his aunt. He
would not throw away that opportunity. He opened his eyes and
noticed that Mara had stepped closer and both Leia and Han were next
to him.

"I'm fine," he told them, though he did not mean it. But he was
better then he had been a moment ago. Owen was still by his chair.
He had not budged when Luke had moved away from him. He was just
standing there not saying a word.

"Luke," Beru said as she finally got to her feet. She walked up to
Luke, blocking Owen from his view. "It's so good to see you. You
have no idea how much we worried about you."

Luke looked at the woman that was the closest thing to a mother he
had ever known. She had aged, but he could still see the same shine
in her eyes. He felt his jumbled nerves calm a bit knowing that his
grief for her had been misguided. He did not flee as she stepped in
and hugged him. And it felt good as he hugged her back.

"I've missed you," he whispered, resting his chin on her shoulder.

"You have no idea how much that means, to both of us." Luke knew she
realized her mistake a moment too late and his eyes shot up to the
man behind her. He did not believe for a second that the man cared
anything about what he thought. Luke clenched his jaw, ending the
hug and trying to bite back his response. The older man glared back
and all of things that Luke had always wished to say to him rose to
his mind.

"Let's all have a seat," Leia interrupted. Luke knew she was trying
to ease the tension and offered her a weak smile as she passed and
escorted everyone to a table. Mara hung back and waited until the
others were well past her before coming up beside Luke.

"How are you holding up?" she asked. He slipped a hand behind her
back and used it to guide her towards the table.

"I never said this was going to be easy." With that he left her and
took the seat next to Leia. He turned to watch Mara as she took up
her place behind him. Then looking around the table he noted that
Han had taken the seat to the other side of him while Owen and Beru
were sitting across the table.

"You cannot imagine our surprise when we heard that the two of you
were still alive," Leia said, still trying to steer the meeting on
course.

"I could say the same," Owen said. Luke could see the shocked
expressions on everyone's faces and knew he had done nothing to
prepare them for his uncle. He sighed, his uncle had certain ideas
and he had never been afraid to express his feelings. Some things
never change. Beru leaned over to his husband and whispered
something in his ear, but he dismissed whatever it was she said.

"What have you done to yourself, Luke?" Owen continued. "I mean just
look at you."

"Owen stop it," Beru exclaimed.

"What I am not allowed to tell them what I think?" He asked his wife
before turning his attention back to Luke. "I mean just look at
you. The way you're dressed, the way you look. Why you look just
like... well just like your father!"

"How dare you!" Han said, expressing the anger of everyone in the
room. The strong emotions were then Luke's shields could handle and
the emotions hit him full force His feelings echoing theirs, he
raised his chin in pride.

"I am proud of who I am," he insisted, his voice carrying just an
ounce of warning. "My father was once a great Jedi. Born of the
light, and he died the same way."

"I bet he did," Owen scoffed.

tbc------

-----------Next----------

Part 3
by Una

The silence this statement ensued was so palpable that Mara could have cut
it with her lightsaber if she had not controlled herself. Out of instinct
her hand had gripped the Jedi weapon on her belt and the movement caught
Owen's eyes.

"Your kind always flocks together, right?" Owen spat out and fixed Mara
with a glaring stare. "So who are you? Another lost Skywalker? A Kenobi,
perhaps one of Palpatine's own off spring?"

At these words, Luke jumped to his feet and Mara had only time to side step
the falling stool Skywalker had just vacated.

"How dare you?" Luke yelled and Mara felt a whole wave of resentment and
anger washing over her. Trying to control her own anger that had been
spurred by Owen's words, she put a restraining hand on his shoulder.

"Let it be, Skywalker," she snapped, sending him a warning over their bond.
"For all I know he could be right, I could be one of Palpy's off-spring."
Her whole demeanour was that she couldn't care less as she stepped towards
the table and leant on it, right into Owen Lars' face.

"All the more reason to fear me, Lars. One more of your little diatribes,
and jerking Skywalker around and I show you exactly what I have learnt from
the Emperor!"

"Mara!" Leia gasped but closed her mouth again when she felt Han squeezing
her hand underneath the table, having reached between Luke and Mara.

Jade pushed herself off the table and took her position behind the Jedi
Master again. Crossing her arms over her chest, she nodded towards Leia who
had watched her every move.

"You may continue, Madame President of State," Mara said, for once not
putting any derogatory meaning to the title but by using it showing the
Lars' clearly who was calling the shots here.

"Thank you," Leia replied just as sweetly and turned her attention back to
the farmer's couple.

"Perhaps I should introduce you to the rest of Luke's companions. You
already made acquaintances with Mistress Mara Jade, Master Trader and Jedi
Knight," Leia said and felt the faint traces of a chuckle coming from her
twin. The way Mara stood rigidly, she knew that by calling Mara a Jedi
Knight, she had not increased her mood by any means.

"This is General Han Solo, my husband," Leia's slender hand gestured
towards where the Corellian sat. She looked up at Luke, but the Jedi
Master's face was blank again and for a moment, Leia thought about pushing
him forward, yelling at him but she thought against it and just waited.

"It is so good to see you again, Luke," Beru said and wiped tears off her
wrinkled cheeks with her hands. "When the storm troopers came for the
droids, I thought you were dead ..."

A snort from her husband made her stop and with a stifled sob she looked
down onto the scratched surface of the table. Then all of sudden, her head
came up again and something like defiance lined her face.

"Well if you are not going to ask the boy how he has been I will," she shot
at her husband which only generated another snort.

"You have changed, Luke," Beru said, her keen gaze taking in every twist
and turn of his appearance.

"I am a Jedi Master now," Luke's reply was short clipped though his heart
was aching for his aunt but try as he might he would not show any sentiment
as long as Owen was in the room with him.

"Yes, of course ... He said you will be in your own time ... but I never
guessed how much this would change you. But I should have known .. your
father and Ben ... they also changed when they became Knight and Master."

"I told you not to mention that Bantha's ass ever again!" Owen snapped and
his gaze almost smoldered the small woman sitting beside him. "He never
cared about our family, only about them. He never knew where his loyalty
truly should have been."

"Now wait a minute," Han barged in and held an accusing finger up. "Who are
you calling a Bantha's ass?? Old Man Kenobi might have been crazy facing
Vader like that, but he tried his best to protect every one."

"And how exactly are you and Kenobi related?" Leia cut in.

"Obi Wan Ben Kenobi was Owen's brother ... well foster brother," Beru said
and flinched physically when Owen made a dismissive movement with his arm.

Luke did not miss the movement of his aunt and neither did Mara, who was
standing so close that he had felt the tensing of her arm muscles.

"I told you not to talk about that nerf in my house," Lars growled but Leia
cut in.

"Well Mr. Lars, this is not your house, so let your wife give Luke the
information he deserves."

"You are like your mother, all so high and mighty la-dee-da. No wonder half
the galaxy wanted you all dead ..."

"My mother?" the question was asked in unison by Luke and Leia and for a
moment the twins exchanged a glance with each other.

Luke was about to snap ... <i>All these years,</i> he thought. <i>All these
years and he could have told me what I wanted to know!</i>.

"So what else have you hidden from me? Why haven't you told me? Why all
these lies?" Luke choked out and for a moment all he wanted to do was to
strike out at him. All the pain, the anger was reaching a boiling point in
his mind but he tried his best to control it.

"Why didn't you tell me about Ben? And my father?"

"Ben was an old Bantha assed nerf who never cared about his family, a man
who put some Bantha asses religion over his family's happiness and well
being!" Owen retorted. "And as for your *he died in the light* father, he
would have killed you and your sister if presented with the chance. He and
Ben were power hungry mad men who played a dangerous game where the rest of
the galaxy and especially their families were pawns!"

Afterwards, those who remained in the room were not sure how Luke had
managed to leave the room without physically damage Owen Lars. Those who
had been present had seen the face of the Jedi Master, and those who had
known Vader or the Emperor had shuddered involuntarily.

"Luke," Beru Lars whispered softly and hid her face behind her weathered
hands while her husband laughed sourly.

"Can't take the truth, Luke?" he yelled after him. "You are still weak ..
just like you were in the old days ..-" He broke off when he was yanked
across the table by the lapels of his tunic.

"Just shut the Sith up!" Mara growled, her voice barely a whisper. "You
will never hurt him again with your lies, or you will have to answer to me!"

With this she pushed the man back and hurriedly left the room to search for
Skywalker.

Leia and Han exchanged a glance, and although not having the Force to guide
him, he knew what his wife thought. Nodding, he turned towards the other
couple.

"I believe it is best you will return with us to Coruscant. The NRI wants
to debrief you anyway and maybe you and Luke can work this out."

-----------------------------
tbc by Sherry

............anything for Morgan :)
Glad to hear you guys are enjoying this RR...
Sherry

Part 4
(Sherry)

Owen opened his mouth to argue but changed his mind when the redhead
female reentered the small shop, stalking furiously over toward the
group.

Leia hurridly stood and met her halfway there. "Is Luke ok?" she
asked with worry etched all over her face.

Mara nodded tightly. "He's on his way back to the Fire. I just
wanted to find out what you planned on doing with them," she jerked
her thumb in the direction of Luke's aunt and uncle.

Leia sighed and looked over at those two when chairs scraped
backwards as the others stood. "We need to find them someplace to
stay."

At was that time that Fixer ventured from the corner and practically
snorted at the two women. "This isn't Coruscant, ladies. We have no
hotels or things around here."

Mara glared at the man. "No boarding houses? Nothing?"

Fixer laughed sarcastically. "Nothing." He glanced around quickly
as Owen turned to stare at him. Fixer stepped closer to Mara and
Leia to speak softer. "And they can't stay here."

Mara and Leia looked at each other. "Mara, we don't have a choice in
this..."

"No!" She practically yelled.

Owen had heard enough of everyone discussing his business. "Beru
and I will find someone to spend the night with and then we'll get
our lives in order..."

Han shook his head, more than tired of hearing all of them. "You
can stay on the ship with us. I"m sure Mara won't mind."

He stopped in front of her. "You are Luke's family after all," he
added after seeing the heated glare she gave him.

After a long stare, Mara only nodded and stalked back out the door.
Han took a deep breath then gathered his wife to his side. "This
way," he mumbled then followed Mara out of the weathered door, back
to her ship and back to a long night with too many people crammed
together.

************************************************

Luke had been warned by Mara what was going on but he still found
himself unnerved by the appearance of his guardians aboard her
ship. He stood in the small storage area at the boarding ramp and
watched as his friends and family boarded the Jade's Fire.

Beru couldn't help but smile at her nephew as she entered. She has
never seen him look so strong and it was hard to hide her pleasure,
though she knew she should.

Luke returned his aunt's smile before catching the look of his
uncle, wiping his smile away instantly.

Mara arrived from down the narrow hallway and broke up the uneasy
silence that had descended after the others had boarded. "We have a
problem." She glanced around. "As you know, there are only three
cabins on my ship."

Luke immediatly walked closer to his friend. "I'll move my things
out of the cabin I have so my aunt and uncle can use that one."
Without another word, he disappeared down hallway and they could all
hear a swish as he entered the cabin.

Mara swore softly under her breath and followed. She slapped the
door mechanism, stepped inside the room and waited till the door
closed before spoke. "This is your cabin, Skywalker."

Luke finished shoving his things into the carryall bag before
answering. "I want them to be comfortable, Mara. This has to be
hard on them."

Mara make a most unladylike snorting sound. "I would say this is
hard on a lot of people."

Luke swung his bag over his shoulder. "It's nothing that I can't
handle."

Luke started to walk past her but Mara grabbed him by the forearm,
twisting her friend sideways to look at her. "Don't give me that,
Luke!"

The Jedi Master was surprised at her venom. He stared at her for a
long moment. "Not now," he finally whispered.

Mara stared at him, her eyes bearing thru him in an attempt to find
answers that he wasn't ready to share yet. "Alright, I'll wait.
But I'm warning you, I will kill him if he hurts you."

Mara could see the shock on Luke's face but she wasn't sure if it
was more from her threat or the fact that she had voiced her opinion
that Owen could or might have hurt him.

Luke opened his mouth but no words came out. Finally he just
nodded.

Mara released her friend and he bolted out the door, leaving an
increasingly frustrated woman behind. She took a deep breath and
decided to check on her ship once again before retiring for the
night. Still angry, she left the cabin and headed for the bridge of
her ship.

Luke met Han and Leia in the hallway, allowing his sister to hug him
close. "Are you ok, Luke?"

Blonde hair tousled slightly as he nodded. "It was just a
shock..that's all."

Leia could tell his comment was intended to end the conversation so
she didn't press.

Han reached around and clapped Luke on the back. "You're welcome to
sleep on the floor in our cabin, kid." He surprised himself by
saying so but Luke was family and they always looked out for each
other.

Luke smiled warmly at his brother in law. "No thanks, Han. I can
crash in the cockpit with no problem."

Han and Leia glanced at each other, not liking that option but
seeing no other ones. "Alright."

The trio bid ech other goodnight and Luke was alone in the hallway
once more. Taking a deep breath, he re entered the small cargo
area. "I'll show you to your cabin," he spoke tightly to the elder
man and woman.

Luke led them down the hallway, indicating to them the refresher and
then their cabin. Owen entered without a word, the door shutting
behind him. Luke let out the breath he was holding as soon as his
uncle was out of sight, shoulders slumping slightly as he did.

Beru watched the door shut then turned sad eyes toward her
nephew. "I'm so sorry to have brought this pain back into your life."

Luke shook his head almost angrily. "You didn't do this, Aunt
Beru." He glanced at the door before continueing. "Uncle Owen makes
his own decisions, his own mistakes."

Luke gratefully hugged his aunt close, as he had wanted to do and
dreamed of for so long. "I'm so glad that you're alive, aunt."

Beru sobbed against the boy she had loved so much that was now a man
that she could see and hold again. "I wanted to see you at least
once more, Luke. To see you grown and let you know that I love
you. I have always loved you."

Luke tightened his grip on the plumpish woman. "I never doubted that
for a moment." He continued to hug the woman until a yell from
inside the cabin caused Luke to instinctively end the embrace and
step away.

Beru ran the back of her hand over her eyes, clearing the
tears. "Goodnight, Luke."

He nodded and hurried past the woman before she opened the door, not
wanting to risk seeing his uncle even for a second.

Luke practically raced down the hallway and disappeared into the
darkened cargo area again. He slumped against the wall then slowly
slid down it, emotions threatening to overcome him.

For the longest time, he sat huddled on the floor, keeping his
emotions and memories tightly tucked away. His eyes focused on
nothing in the almost completely dark room. He could hear various
clicks and beeps and he knew Mara was checking the ship. He watched
as she entered the hold and checked the ramp.

Mara sucked in her breath after she locked the ramp and turned to
leave, her gaze settling on the man barely visible in the corner.
Not knowing what to expect, she approached cautiously, kneeling
before her friend.

"You can't sit here all night, Skywalker," she whispered, almost
cringing at the vacant look in his eyes.

Luke forced a smile. "Why can't I?"

Mara sighed. "It's going to get cool here, the floor is hard metal
and because I said so."

Luke couldn't help but chuckle. "And I should always listen to Mara
Jade."

Mara was suddenly serious. "Yes, you should. I would never lie to
you, Luke."

The Jedi Master stared at her. "I know."

Mara struggled to her feet, holding out her hand. "Let's get you
tucked in for the night. You look like you haven't slept in days."

Luke gratefully took her hand and was surprised when she pulled him
up. The woman never failed to surprise him and it seemed he would
never learn to not underestimate her. He followed her down the
hallway, surprised when she stopped at her cabin door and turned,
motioning for him to enter.

"What? Mara, I'm going to just curl up in one of the chairs in
the..."

"Inside, Skywalker," she took his arm and practically pushed him
inside.

Luke stumbled through the doorway, turning just in time to see Mara
secure the door. He raised his eyebrow in curiosity. "Locking me
in?"

Mara walked over to a closet and pulled several blankets out before
answering him. "More like locking others out...so sleep won't be
with one eye open watching our backs."

Luke was a bit uncomfortable at her comment. It seemed as if she
knew more than she should. "I see." He watched Mara settle a stack
of blankets on the floor then add a pillow from her own bed.

"Not as good as a bed, Skywalker, but better than a chair."

Luke glanced at how close his friend would be, then at the locked
door. "It's perfect for me, Mara," he replied softly.

Mara watched him carefully. "Good." She briskly walked into the
refresher, needing to distance herself from the unusual sadness that
seemed to radiate off Luke. After only a few moments, she
reemerged, flicking off the refresher light as she did.

Luke had dimmed the cabin light but Mara was able to make her to her
bed, stopping only long enough to look down at the soundly sleeping
Jedi snuggled into his makeshift bed.

With a smile that few rarely saw on her face, Mara climbed into her
bed, hoping that they both would get some much needed rest.

...........tbc................

Part 5
(Angela)

Luke tossed and turned on his makeshift bed. Ever since he found
out his guardians were alive; the dreams had threatened to return.
Now that he had actually seen and touched them once again, the
dreams did more than threaten. They returned with more clarity than
ever before and it wasn't long till Luke found himself trapped in a
time that he thought he had buried years ago.

Luke knew right away he was dreaming. It did not take a Jedi to
realize that things were not right in this place. The air normally
hot on Tatooine felt cool to his skin. The sand he was standing on
stayed in its place and did not work it's way onto his clothes. But
the thing that stood out most during this time was his since of
calm. A feeling he had not been able to accomplish in days.

Luke took in his surroundings and he was not surprised to see that
he was back at the Lar's farm. He was not surprised, but he was far
from happy. To find himself in this place he did not have to guess
what he was about to see. Looking down into the courtyard, his
thoughts were confirmed as he caught site of the young blonde haired
boy fighting with a block of metal that was three times his size.
It was a scene that had played out many times in his young life,
being asked to perform a task that was beyond him, so he could not
pinpoint what exactly was going to happen. Taking a closer look
Luke realized he could not have been more then ten as he tried to
yank on the rope to pull it tight while his uncle repositioned the
old machine.

"Now hold that rope tight, Luke boy," Owen grumbled as he pushed on
the mass of metal and steadied it. "Go around to the other side and
tie it down."

"But shouldn't we make sure this thing is level before we try that?"
Luke asked.

"DO IT!" Owen yelled.

Young Luke flinched at his uncle's tone and walked, head down, to
the other side of the cart, trying hard to keep the thing from
falling over. He tied it down as quickly as possible and was trying
to help with the rest of the fasteners, when suddenly there was a
loud creaking sound and the bulky metal began to keen to one side.
Luke scrambled over in time to get a grip on the equipment and
heaved with all his strength trying to lift the heavy machine to
free his uncle, who was now trapped underneath, a task that would
have been impossible for a normal ten year old.

Luke, still watching his own memory from the safety of his
observation point above the courtyard knew now that he had been
drawing on the Force to help him free his uncle. Though he still
could not recall this particular event, he knew that as a child he
had no idea that he was doing it.

Slowly, the machine rose and Owen moved out from underneath it.
Young Luke dropped the machine as soon as he knew his uncle was
free. I should have not tried to move it, Luke thought. He
continued to watch as Owen stood. He first looked at young Luke
with gratitude, then realization, and then anger.

"What did you do?" he yelled. The older Luke even flinched at the
tone, finding himself wondering if his `uncle' meant letting the
thing fall or if he somehow knew that young Luke had used the Force.

"Nothing!" the child shouted, unexplainably defensive. Then he
dipped his head in shame, embarrassed that he had shouted at the
adult. "Sounded like the fasteners snapped," he continued, his voice
much softer.

"No boy!" Young Luke took a step back, fear showing clearly in his
face. "You didn't tie the blasted thing down right. How many times
must I show you that? You could have killed me."

"But I did. I did do it right," young Luke pleaded, taking another
step away from his uncle.

"Don't argue with me, you ungrateful little snot!" His face had
grown red in anger. "You are so blasted selfish. Never paying any
attention to what you are doing. You almost killed me!"

Luke continued watching his own memory, remembering in sorrow as
Owen had grabbed the child, him, by the shirt shook him viciously.

"How does it feel having someone trying to hurt you?"

Young Luke fell to the ground and tried to get out of reach, but
fear was working against him. He slipped in the sand and lost what
footing he had, landing on his hand and almost crying out as the
pain raced up his arm. Owen strolled over to him and the boy could
see how bad the situation was, reacting the way any child would. He
slowly tried to scoot back, putting distance between himself and his
raging uncle.

Beru ran out, tossing her apron behind her. "Owen stop!" she
yelled. "This is not helping." The older man stopped what he was
doing and looked at her. Beru walked confidently up to her husband
and took his hands in hers. "It's not helping," she said, softer
this time. "Go back in the house, I'll take care of this."

Luke watched Owen nod slightly and turn to go into the house.
Glancing back, he looked at his ward with a touch of regret then
continued on his way. Luke was started by that. He had never once
seen that man show any regret, the site of it confused him even more.

Beru kneeled beside her nephew, touching his arm lightly. "Are you
alright?" she asked, trying to help him sit up. However he didn't
answer or accept her offer of assistance. Instead he rolled away
from her, a low whimper escaping his lips. Slowly he curled into a
tight ball and did not move. Beru continued to kneel beside his
still form, caressing his head and shoulders, comforting him with
her hands. Eventually young Luke straightened himself out and sat up.

"Are you alright?" Beru asked again, looking him over.

"I don't know...." Young Luke said, then placed his hands down on the
ground, meaning to push himself up, but flinched and instantly
cradled his right hand. "No...I guess I'm not...Why does he do that?"
he asked, tears streaming down his face.

"Luke," Beru said, carefully looking over his hand. "You know him
Luke, he only wants to help you. To make sure you do what's right."

"And he thinks this is way?" the boy exclaimed, the shock showing
clearly on his youthful face.

"Yes Luke, he does. Now up with you," Beru commanded lovingly, while
helping him to his feet. "Get yourself over to see the doctor, and
do try to stay as far as you can from your uncle today. You will
see, things will be fine."

With a look of deep pain that the adult Luke could still feel, the
child headed up the stairs and to his land speeder. As he watched
the youth speed away, Luke found himself torn. Even in his dreams
he could not keep hold of the calm that had been a part of his life
for so long. He wanted nothing more then to walk down those stairs
and command his uncle to stop. To explain to him the damage he was
casing to the child left in his care. However a touch on his arm
stopped him from moving. He turned around and found it strange that
he saw no one around him. He felt the touch again and this time
heard a soft voice calling his name.

His eyes snapped open and he found himself staring into the
concerned eyes of his friend that was kneeling beside him. He
looked at her in confusion before remembering that he had been
dreaming. He was once again sprawled out on the floor of Mara's
cabin, his blankets tangled around his feet.

.........to be continued by SHERRY..............

Oke, here is part six. I wrote this part but Una helped bunches
by 'fluffing' parts. It really helps to have the other half (or
third as this case may be) of your brain around, to say what you're
struggling to say at times :) So credit and thanks go to Una :))

Part 6
(Sherry)

Luke self-consciously wadded the blanket up in his hand, clutching
it to himself as he scooted away from Mara until his back was up
against the sidewall.

Mara's breath caught in her throat at the stricken look on her
friend's face. Though she was close enough friend to Luke to have
seen him without that blasted calm mask on his face, never had she
seen him with such an anguished look in its place. Mara noted the
way he was breathing, heavily, and how his skin was covered in a
sheen of sweat.

Giving him time to adjust to wakefulness, Mara slowly stood, showing
Luke that she wasn't advancing toward him, then quickly made her way
to the refresher. After grabbing a washcloth and wetting it, she
returned to the dimness of her cabin. Kneeling beside Luke, she
noticed his eyes weren't as wild as before. "It's just me, Luke.
I'm not going to hurt you."

Slowly the man nodded and Mara, still on her knees, moved closer.
She laid the cloth against Luke's forehead and his eyes
closed. "Thank you," he almost sobbed.

Mara continued to rub Luke's face with the wet cloth, plainly seeing
how much it was relaxing him and wanting nothing more for him to
stop feeling what he had been before. "And here I thought no one had
nightmares as bad as me," she joked.

Luke opened his eyes again and his mouth crinkled up at her a
bit. "Another thing we seem to have in common, I suppose."

Mara grinned back at him, slowly working the blanket that he still
clutched out of his hands. "It seems like we have more things in
common than we ever realized."

Luke frowned a bit at that comment, not sure he understood her or
wanted to. "What do you mean?"

Mara took a deep breath, from his question and also from the sight
before her. She hadn't realized Luke was only clad in boxer shorts
and when she had taken the blanket, she was exposed to much more
skin of the Jedi than she was used to. "Uh...I think you know what I
mean. Owen hit you, Luke, and I suspect he has before. Just as my
guardian did."

Mara expected Luke to cringe from her assertion of his situation but
was instead completely taken off guard when he pushed himself up to
his knees and took her by the upper arms. "Palpatine hurt you?" he
hissed through clenched teeth.

Mara stared at ice blue eyes in confusion. "That shouldn't surprise
you, Skywalker. You know how evil he was."

Luke didn't release Mara, his fingers dug into her arm. "You were a
child, Mara. Why would he hurt you?"

Mara's hands went to Luke's chest, her fingers against his smooth
skin. "Why does anyone do it, Luke?" She whispered and watched as
his anger slowly ebbed away. That was a question that neither one
of them could answer though they both desperately needed the answer.

One of Mara's hands moved to the side of Luke's face. "You don't
have to face him alone, Luke. I'm here."

Luke stared down at her, both still on their knees and hands on each
other. "Promise me that you will be. Don't leave me alone."

Mara felt an unfamiliar surge of tightness in her chest at his
softly spoken plea. "I...I won't leave you." She was shaken by how
much she meant those words; she would stand by him in his darkest
times.

Luke nodded, finally releasing her arms to pull her closer.

Mara let herself be hugged, even scooting closer to tighten the grip
as her own arms slid around the muscled torso of her friend. For a
moment, the two only hugged each other tightly, sharing a bond of
friendship as well as a similar tormented past.

Mara shivered slightly, the masculine smell of the man she was
pressed against finally reaching her. She pulled back slightly to
lift her head and gaze at the man holding her.

Luke felt Mara tremble then pull back. He looked down at her, a
look on her face that he had never seen. She was concerned for him
and it showed openly on her face. Gone were the quick-witted trader
and sassy Jedi, all he saw was a beautiful woman who obviously cared
about him.

Cared for him so much that she let him hug her close, closer than
they had ever been and he liked it that way. Before, she had been an
ally, a friend, a confidante, but now she was also more than this,
they shared things and secrets with each other that none of their
other friends could ever fathom.

It seemed to be only natural that they should share this much and
more and for once he didn't fight himself at all, didn't let his
Jedi code impair his male instincts as he lowered his mouth to hers,
lips brushing delicate lips.

Mara trembled once again at the strange contact between them,
contact that neither had ever approached before. Her first instinct
was to shove him away, to end their contact. But the need to comfort
Luke won out. She knew from her own experience that he needed the
comfort.

And it is just an innocent kiss, she told herself, when she
responded to the kiss. Just a peck, nothing more.

All thoughts of ending the touch flew from her mind when Luke's hand
shifted, wrapping through her loose hair and bringing her face even
closer. She almost fell against him when he pulled her from her
perch and she felt his tongue brushing over her quivering lips,
seeking, no, demanding entrance.

All Mara could do was to answer his silent plea and when she opened
her mouth to let him in, sharing the heightened kiss, her heart
began pounding at the burning sensation it created throughout her
entire body. That was their undoing. Feeling Skywalker so close all
she could do was pressing herself against his hard frame and she
could feel the same from him. Heads thrashed about wildly, tongues
formerly not acquainted with each other fought a silent battle as
hands began to roam, intent on exploring and creating new sensations
that the two had long deprived themselves of.

Luke pulled on Mara's hair, forcing her head backwards and exposing
her neck. Unable to resist, his tongue trailed a path from the
hollow of her neck to her earlobe. The moment he had kissed her, all
the repercussions of his nightmare had fled his mind and all he
could feel and think of was the beautiful woman in his arms.

Silently, he thanked all the stars in the galaxy that Mara's
normally caustic nature was shelved away somewhere at this moment
and although he knew that this was an exception to the rule of their
friendship, he also knew that Mara needed this intimate contact as
much as him. They were both scarred, both children who had been put
through too much and he wanted to make her whole again. He needed to
make her whole again in order to help himself.

His hands moved restlessly over her shapely body, lingering in
certain places, making himself acquainted with the texture of her
body. His hands met soft skin, skin that in certain places was
rougher, displaying scars that she bore like the evident marks of
her former experiences. Renewing his kisses and licks, he drew her
closer, wanting to enwrap her in his arms, his mind and his whole
being.

Mara sucked in air, forcing herself to breathe as the normally
reserved Jedi seemed intent on driving her mad. She panted slightly
as his lips became rougher and teeth nibbled on delicate skin.
Images flashed in Mara's mind and with another shudder, she realized
that Luke was projecting to her what he himself was imagining.

Spurred on by the images, Mara's hands began their own adventure,
sliding over damp skin, rubbing over hardened male nipples in a
circular motion until she could resist no longer. Her hand followed
the slight trail of hair leading from Luke's chest to his lower
body, her fingers brushing over the fabric of his shorts before
closing around his most sacred part.

Luke responded by groaning against her neck. Mara stilled her hand,
enjoying the way he continued the motion by moving his own hips
against her stilled hand. The realization that the normally calm
Jedi Master wanted her, jarred her whole being. Her breath caught up
in her throat when she felt how much he wanted her.

Blue eyes met emerald one and Mara noticed something that caused her
to jerk her hand away. Luke inhaled sharply at the sudden loss of
contact and he struggled to ask why.

Mara put her finger to his lips, the sad eyes she had seen letting
her know that while they both wanted this, it was not the time.

"I can't have you like this, Luke. You're running from memories and
I can't soothe you in this way."

For a moment, neither one moved as their eyes stayed locked
together. Luke finally nodded. "I understand." Their heads moved
in unison, rested against each other, while their hands left hot
skin and clinging fabric, to rest slightly with entwined fingers.

"It would be all for the wrong reasons ..." Luke whispered and Mara
nodded.

"Yes," she simply answered, trying her best not to dip her head
upward and claim those lips she had dejected only a minute before.

Luke must have felt her struggle, so he moved away from Mara, back
against the wall again. "We got carried away and I'm sorry."

Mara quickly and clumsily pushed herself up and climbed into her
bed, pulling her own blanket over herself. His words creating a
sharp twist in her being. She didn't say a word until several
minutes later when Luke had settled himself back onto his
pallet. "Luke?"

He didn't look at her from the floor. "I'm not sorry that it
happened," she replied softly.

Soft laughter floated up to her. "I'm not either," Luke turned on
his side, looking up at her, "Not at all."

Mara smiled at him, both continuing to gaze at the other until
exhausted eyelids fluttered and sleep once again claimed them.

........next part by me, cuz I already wrote it!! LOL.........

oke, part seven......... this is one of my favorite parts! Hope you
enjoy it :)

Part 7
(Sherry)
The next morning...

Luke was still talking to Mara as he punched the door access panel,
stepping through it as soon as it opened. He glanced back to see
her finishing her hair braid. "Sorry if I kept you awake too much
last night." Luke turned back around, fingers going to the top
button of his tunic to finish it when he stopped dead in his tracks.

Mara stepped out of the cabin behind her friend and almost ran into
the back of him when he stopped suddenly. "Luke, what's wrong?"

She stepped up beside him, intending on speaking to him face to face
but finding it unnecessary when she saw who else was in the
hallway. Mara had faced many opponents but she had to admit, this
one was angrier that she had ever seen any of them.

Luke felt every drop of calmness leave his body as his eyes
connected with those of his former guardian.

Owen and Beru both had apparently just stepped from their cabin mere
seconds before he and Mara had and Luke knew from the look on Owen's
face what the man was thinking.

"Uncle Owen..." he started but never finished.

Luke's arm instinctively reached out and none to gently pushed Mara
behind him as the red faced, furious man bounded down the small
hallway. Familiar feelings engulfed Luke at the sight and old
emotions surfaced. He braced himself.

Mara stumbled a bit from Luke's somewhat of a shove, grunting as she
jerked away and ended up against the wall instead. Her hands went
to her mouth at the sickening smack of Owen's palm connecting with
Luke's face. She watched in stilled horror as Luke's head snapped
backwards and he stumbled, catching his foot on the tip of hers and
falling to the floor.

Mara, her only concern at the moment being Luke himself, took a step
or two and knelt beside her friend. Luke's gaze was fixated on
Owen, who towered above them and he didn't seem to notice Mara
wiping the trickle of blood from his mouth. "Are you ok?" She asked.

Still without taking his gaze from his tormentor, Luke struggled to
his feet with Mara helping him. "I'm fine," he whispered.

Seeing that her friend was fine, Mara gave in to the anger that was
seeping through her every pore, turning in a rage and lunging at
Owen just as the cabin door to Leia and Han's accommodations swished
open.

Luke, feeling Mara's intent as much as seeing it, grabbed her around
the waist and turned himself around, still clutching her against
him. Luke pressed her up against the wall, pushing himself against
her back to keep her still. He knew Han and Leia were now in the
hallway and more than anything he didn't want this to continue
now. "Mara, don't attack him," he whispered in her ear.

"Luke, he..." she practically yelled, twisting her head a bit in an
attempt to see him.

Luke still spoke quietly, his words strained as he spoke from his
heart. "I don't want them to know, Mara, please."

Mara immediately stopped struggling, realizing what he meant. If
she attacked Owen then she would have to explain why and Luke didn't
want that...he didn't want his family to know that Owen had struck
him. "Alright," she agreed.

Luke released Mara and stepped away, his eyes still on her as she
turned. Leia and Han had stepped around Owen, noticing the cowering
Beru at the end of the hallway. Han laid his hand on Luke's
shoulder. "What's going on here?"

Mara and Luke continued to stare at each other, their eyes speaking
more than words ever could. Mara found it hard to keep her anger
under control at the amount of pain she saw in the blue eyes. "It's
fine, Solo," she answered, stepping forward and brushing more blood
from the corner of Luke's mouth before they saw.

Luke's eyes closed briefly as she did and he reached out to her
through their bond. *Thank you, friend.*

Mara hesitated a bit at his unusual wording then smiled slightly
when his eyes reopened. Friends meant everything to Skywalker and
she was one of them and she always would be. She understood that
now more than ever.

Owen watched them, his own anger building. He went to grab Luke's
arm but the Jedi shrugged his hand away by stepping backwards then
facing his uncle. "Have you no honor at all, Luke? Did you learn
nothing from us?"

Leia was confused and not happy with the tone Owen was once again
using. "What are you talking about? My brother is a very honorable
man."

Owen snorted. "He and this...." He glared at Mara for a split
second, "..woman came out of her cabin this morning buttoning their
clothes up." Owen took a step forward, raising his voice and
shaking his fist. "How dare you throw all the morals and principles
that we struggled to teach you back in our faces?"

Leia stared at Owen then at her brother, unsure of what had happened
but knowing that Luke didn't deserve this. "You need to calm down,
Owen," she started.

"Calm down?" The much larger man bellowed, causing Han to put his
arm around Leia's shoulders. "We took this boy in and struggled
through feeding, clothing him and teaching him right from wrong and
not to learn that he didn't listen to us at all? That's he's now a
Jedi and sleeping with whoever whenever he wants."

Luke barely caught Mara as she lunged again. He pulled her back
against his side. *Let it go, Mara, for my sake.*

Mara looked sideways at her friend, having felt his anguish when he
spoke to her. She then turned to Owen. "I feel so sorry for you.
You have no idea who the great man that you raised really is."

Beru had built her courage and slowly made her way toward the
group. Owen laughed sarcastically. "A great man indeed. A man with
no morals or honor can never be great. Even your father had more
honor than you! He had at least married Padme first."

No matter how hard he had tried to not respond, Luke gasped at his
uncle's insult. Luke shook his head slightly. He knew he should
stand up to the bully, finally stop this but for someone who had
suffered through what he had, confronting the demons was more than
he could do right now. "I can't ..." he turned away, pushing past Han
as he did, intending on going to the cockpit where he knew Mara
would never allow Owen to follow but a daunting voice stopped him
before he reached the door to the bridge.

"You can't run from this, Luke," Owen's words floated down the
hallway, echoing against the cold, metal walls. "You have to fix
this immoral mess you've gotten yourself into."

Luke whirled around, desperately wanting to end this public,
humiliating persecution of himself. "What do you want me to do,
Uncle Owen? What do I have to do to make this right and for you to
not think that I'm nothing more than dirt?"

Leia watched her brother closely, seeing a bit more pain than she
was used to. Her gaze shifted to Mara, who nervously looked away.
Yes, there's more going on here than I realized, Leia mused.

Owen glanced at his wife, knowing that she to felt the same way he
did. "What you did was wrong, Luke. Only within marriage should you
do such a thing."

Luke stared at his uncle, his thoughts going back to what had
transpired between himself and Mara. Yes, there had been sexual
interaction but not what Owen thought, not exactly what Owen
thought. "Uncle Owen..."

"No, don't disgrace me by calling me family when you've lowered
yourself to this level," Owen bellowed once again, leaving Han and
Leia glancing nervously at each other. They had never realized that
one man could be so stubborn.

Mara had had enough. She tapped her foot, attempting to work off
some of the anger building. "Look, Uncle Owen," she
mocked, "whatever might or might not have happened between Luke and
myself is none of your business."

Luke listened, Mara's words telling him that she was just as
confused about last night as he was. He didn't even know if they
had done anything wrong.

Mara continued her assault, her finger now pointing at the man. "And
you have NO right to talk to Luke that way."

Owen watched the woman with distain then shifted angry eyes toward
his nephew. "I hope that we instilled enough honor in you to rectify
this mistake by marrying this...woman." Owen turned to leave, taking
Beru by the arm. "Maybe if you do marry her you can then learn to
control her better." He pulled Beru along beside him, illustrating
his point.

Han quickly stepped in front of Mara as her blaster was predictably
grabbed from its holster and aimed at Owen. "Mara, put it away,"
Han said softly.

Mara glared at the Corellian that her blaster was now pointed
at. "Foolish to step in front of a blaster, Solo."

Han couldn't resist. "Foolish to shoot Luke's uncle as well."

Mara sighed and reholstered her blaster, turning to look at Luke.
He watched his one time guardians reenter their cabin then without
another word, he turned practically ran the few steps to the door
leading to the cockpit.

Mara sighed as the door swished shut behind him.

Leia was not a happy person. "What happened here?" She stepped
directly in front of the female Jedi.

Mara raised her brow at bit at Leia's tone. "You saw what happened."

"I mean before we arrived. Why does Owen think that you and Luke...
that ...you shared a cabin?" Leia stammered a bit over the unfamiliar
words.

"Because we did. Luke had nowhere else to sleep," Mara retorted.

Leia and Han's eyes both widened. Leia almost whispered. "Did you
and he, did you...?" She then shook her head as if to clear
it. "Never mind, that's none of my business."

"No, it's not," Mara wasn't about to give in to Owen's berating or
Leia's either.

Leia glared at the woman. "Han and I will ask Owen to help us
gather supplies today for the trip home. That should keep him away
from Luke for most of the day."

Mara nodded. "That's a good idea. I'm not worried about Beru but
Owen.." She glanced toward the door she knew Luke was hiding
behind. "I have to make a quick trip to check on our clearance to
leave but I'll be here to watch after Luke."

Leia nodded. "Thank you." She started down the hallway, opposite
from the cockpit but the way that led off the ship. Suddenly she
stopped and turned toward Mara once again. "And I mean that, Mara."

Mara nodded then watched as Han summonsed Owen from his cabin,
requesting his help. After only a few minutes of persuasion, the
burly man agreed and the trio left the ship. Mara glanced at the
door leading to the heart of her ship, wondering if she should tell
Luke she was leaving. Deciding that he needed to be alone and that
he could find her presence if needed, she too hurried down the
hallway and exited the Jade's Fire.

...........to be continued...............................

Okay here is part 8 ... Beru and Luke with a little bit of Mara thrown on
onboard the Jade's Fire.

Part 8
(by Una)

Beru Lars watched the retreating figure of the red headed woman. Last night
she had mused why that Jedi had so openly shown her dislike for her husband
and now she knew why.

Sighing heavily, she rubbed her eyes, saddened that her foster son would
lower himself by doing what he did.

<i>I have always told him that he should not bed a woman before being
properly married to her,</i> she worried herself. <i>How can he have
changed so much?</i>

The elderly woman looked up when she heard the soft hiss of the cockpit's
door being opened and for a moment two pairs of blue eyes watched each
other intently. For a fleeting moment genuine joy and relief showed on the
young man's face, then the blank Jedi mask was securely in place again.

"Aunt Beru," Luke nodded shortly and tried to pass the woman on his way to
the small kitchen the Jade's Fire accommodated.

"Want me to prepare you breakfast?" Beru asked, determined to make her
foster son see his errant ways.

Luke shrugged, then turned slowly around. "I doubt even you will be able to
create something scrumptious out of ration bars, Aunt Beru," he said but to
take the sting out of his words he held out his hand in offer. "Let us
share a cup of caf, shall we?"

Hesitating for a moment, Beru laid her hand in that of the Jedi Master's
and have herself be led toward the small eating area. Once there, she
watched Luke as he prepared the strong brew, wondering how familiar he was
with his surroundings when the craft itself belonged to the fiery Jedi woman.

Skywalker felt her thoughts, trickling away from her like water droplets,
and without thinking about the consequences, he replied her unspoken question:

"On missions we sometimes use the Jade's Fire, Mara and I are quite a
team," he said with pride, a smile playing on his lips.

"I should imagine, that you are <i>quite a team</i>," Beru retorted
bitterly and bit her lips when Luke whirled around to face her.

"I thought you would be more sensible than Uncle Owen," Luke whispered, not
believing that the woman who had been like a mother to him would think he
was being dishonorable.

"Well I saw you ... we both saw you and that woman. You were quite
comfortable with each other as you both emerged from her cabin, buttoning
up. What is there to think? You are not married, well not to each other,
and yet you behave like a married couple, do things only a married couple
should do..." Beru shot back at him.

Luke crossed his arms over his chest and for a moment he asked himself if
he should bother to explain, obviously even his Aunt Beru thought he had
done something wrong ... and had he?

Last night he had needed the close encounter, and apart from kissing and
some heavy panting nothing had happened between Mara and himself, perhaps
it never will get any further than this, but why did he feel guilty?

<i>No, not guilty,</i> he told himself. <i>I feel as if my own family with
their lack of approval, lower and dirty an otherwise beautiful and
remarkable experience.</i>

"Owen and I have tried to instill to you a sense of honour and moral,
Luke," Beru continued. "And seeing you there was like seeing my own son
going against me."

"What did you see?" he asked but not waiting for her to answer. "Two adult
people leaving a cabin. Two friends, who have been on more missions and in
more dangerous situations together than anyone of us ever cared to count.
Mara is my best friend, like Han ... if Han was not here with Leia, I would
have bunked with him, on the floor..."

Drawing in his breath, he saw that Beru was not buying it. With a sigh he
turned his back on her and prepared two cups which he then carried over to
the small sitting area. Putting the cups onto he table, he motioned for
Beru to sit.

"Aunt Beru, do you really believe I have changed so much? That the things
you have taught me could be so easily forgotten?" he asked while he sat
opposite her.

"Well you have changed, and the Jedi always followed their own rules ..:"
Beru replied, sipping her caf.

Luke snorted at that. "I'm the only living Jedi Mast and I make up my own
rules," he said it not without pride. "But you are right, there have been
situations in the past where I did not live according to the rules you had
set up. During the rebellion and the years afterwards, but that doesn't
make me less a man."

"So you don't deny it? You are sleeping with women you are not married to.
Oh Luke, Owen will be furious if he finds out. What if these women had
off-spring from you? Doesn't it bother you that somewhere out there, there
are Force strong children who might fall to the dark side because they grow
up without a father?"

Luke tensed for a moment, then relaxed. <i>One thing Owen had more than
once clobbered into me when I grew up was to protect the woman I sleep
with. That is one thing I will never forget,</i> the Jedi Master thought.

<i>But you almost forgot with Jade last night,</i> the taunting voice in
his mind reminded him. <i>Would you have stopped, if Mara had not so
before? Would you have thought about prevention meds? No, you would have
gone through with it and to Sarlacc pit with the consequences</i>.

"There are no children," Luke replied tersely and for a moment his face
showed openly how much he longed to have a family and children.

"And there never will be, Jedi Masters and family don't go well together."

They lapsed into silence, and Beru tried to look anywhere but her former
foster son.

"So what exactly is the relation between you and this Jade woman?" she
asked, trying to understand all. From what she could pick up, the longing,
the pride, the fiery Jedi was more to Luke than just a friend. She had
known the young boy and she knew that look that now showed on the adult Luke.

The man in front of her shrugged his shoulders. "Mara and I are close,
closer perhaps than you or Owen might think appropriate, but she is my
friend, I trust her with my life just as she entrust hers to me every time
we are on a mission. But we are not ... not what you think ... "

"But given the chance you would throw all caution to the wind, right? Oh
Luke, Owen was right."

"Owen was right?" Luke almost yelled as he jumped to his feet. "Owen was
right? Was he also right the innumerous times where he beat me within an
inch of my life?"

Beru gasped and buried her face in her hands. "He only meant well, Luke,"
she muttered. "You know your uncle is a strict man ... You already
displayed certain powers that scared him ..."

Luke closed his eyes when a familiar Force signature washed over him,
enwrapping him with its warmth.

<i>*He is dead!*</i> Mara's voice held a determination that had lacked when
she had been intent on killing Skywalker.

Luke shook his head and turned around facing Mara standing in the door.

<i>*I told you to leave it be, Mara*</i> he sent her, but he knew it was
fruitless. The deadly determination in her eyes told him she was dead serious.

"Tell me, <i>Aunt</i> Beru, what did you do when your wonderful husband
took pot shots at Luke? Did you try to stop him? Did you try to soothe the
mental and physical pain of the young boy? Or did you secretly spurn that
husband of yours on? Did you agree with what your husband did? Punishing a
Force strong child?"

Mara had advanced into the room and now she was towering over the small
elderly woman, with her hands on her hips.

"Tell me, <i>Aunt</i> Beru? Did you ever try to stop him being abused?"

"Mara, stop it," Luke demanded and tried to pull her away, but Mara was
having none of it.

"No, it is time for them to stop. You are a grown man, the hero of the New
Republic and I have to make them understand that they cannot bully you into
submission again, forgetting what you are or what powers you have," she
looked up to him, searching his eyes for understanding. "If they do not
accept the man you have become, then they have no business with you."

"Mara, please .. don't do this ..." Luke whispered, leaning forward
slightly, so that brow rested against brow.

"I know you love them," Mara replied softly to his plea. "But this has to
stop, Luke. <i>I</i> have to make them stop if you can't. I know you would
do no less if I were in your situation."

Beru watched the couple intently. It seemed as if the two Jedi were in a
world of their own, enwrapped in each other's presence and she was reminded
of another Jedi couple, also one blonde Skywalker who had trusted a woman
only to be spurned and turned to the dark side.

Both Jedi felt the thoughts of the so easily projecting woman and for a
moment Mara felt Luke tensing.

<i>*Don't mind her, Luke*</i> she pleaded over their shared Force bond.
<i>*She doesn't understand the times we live in. Let her think what she
wants, let your uncle think what he wants.*</i>

<i>*Not on your expense, I'm used to their diatribes, but you ...*</i> Luke
was cut off when Mara shook her head, stepping away from him.

<i>*I can handle myself, Skywalker!*</i>, she squeezed his hand quickly to
take away the sting of her words, then turned towards Beru again.

"If I were you, I would heed my words, Beru Lars," Mara said, her voice
calm and cold. "Skywalker here might think of you as family and he is too
nice a man so he will take whatever you hand out to him, but I do not have
such qualms. If you cannot keep your's and your husband's mouth shut and
your tongues from wagging, I will shut them for you ... period!"

With this, Mara turned and stalked out of the mess hall. Luke and Beru just
stared after her until they heard the soft thud of the cockpit's door.
----------------

tbc by Angela :)

Part 9
(Angela)

Han stood impatiently in the dingy shop as the clerk filled the sack
full of the items they had requested. Leia was still at the last
shop, offering to wait for the last few items there while he and Owen
headed over to the store that would have the last of what they
needed.

Han looked towards the door where Owen was standing. He had his back
to the inside of the store and was deep in conversation with the
older man that had seen sitting by the door when they entered. It
was not surprising to Han to see that people here still knew Owen
Lars. Han had been to plenty of places like this, and nothing ever
changed. He suspected that the only thing that was ever different in
this place was the shape of the sand dunes.

Owen Lars, now there was a man that was nothing like Han had
pictured. There was no forgetting the kid when they had first met.
He was too eager, but completely unaware of the workings of real
life. In Han's line of work, that level of naiveitivity was rare to
see. It was amazing that the man standing only a few away could have
possibly raised the boy whom Han had watched mature into the man, the
Jedi Master that he was so proud of now. And he was proud of Luke,
something this trip had made him realize that Luke had probably not
heard enough in his life.

The clerk behind the counter cleared his throat to get Han's
attention. He had finished the packing and was handing over the
sacks.

"Will there be anything else?" The clerk asked politely. It was
obvious that he knew who Han was, and was trying hard not to stare.
It was better then the reaction they had from the patrons of the last
shop. He was sure Leia was still answering questions and shaking
hands.

"No, this will be all," Han said, wondering how long it would be
before they could finally be on their way.

"Please stop by again," the clerk said eagerly.

"I hope I will never be back to this planet," Han said under his
breath. He grabbed the sacks and carried them towards the door.
Owen looked up at him as he walked closer, then ignored him like he
had been doing, picking up his conversation with the man he had been
talking to practically since they had entered the store.

"So he never had the guts to come back here?" Owen was asking.

"Not that I ever seen," the old man was saying. "Heard lots about
him, but never did see his face around here again. Big shock to hear
about him. Everyone thought he had died along with you and your
wife. Was almost as big a shock as it was seeing you. Good thing
rumors spread so fast here, or you walking into the shop here might
have made the old ticker stop completely."

"We wouldn't want that now would we, Mejeb." Owen said
sarcastically.

Han found himself wondering what they were talking about, but
considering the mood Owen had been in when they left the ship, and
the way he had been acting while on this supply run, there was no
real need to guess the subject of his inquires. It had been made all
too clear that Luke's dislike of his uncle, was more then doubled in
return.

"So, it must be nice, having your family back together and all," the
man continued, either not hearing or ignoring the sarcasm in the
other's voice.

"My family is together," Owen stated. "Always has been. Having Luke
back in it will only complicate things again."

<i>I don't recall him asking you back into his life,</i> Han though,
but he did not voice his opinion. Though he found it hard to stay
out of the conversation.

"Well surely you're proud of the boy," Mejeb questioned. "With
everything he has done?"

"Proud?" Owen scoffed. "What's there to be proud of? Him going out
and ruining everything about his life we tried to give him? All the
things he has done." Owen laughed. "You pay attention to way too
much off world stuff. You know yourself that most of that was made
up to make the government look good."

Han was fuming. The more he spent time with this man the more he
wished he had not stopped Jade from shooting him. He seemed to have
no idea of the reaction he caused in others by his words. Then again
maybe he did, Han decided, and he enjoyed the conflict it caused.

The older man looked up at Owen, his expression unreadable. "He
brought back the Jedi," he simply stated.

"The Jedi!" Owen exclaimed. "Oh don't you start about the blasted
Jedi. That boy thinks the Jedi are the end all and save all for
everything. He is just like his father, and look where that got
him. You mark my words, this is all going to blow up in his face."

"Ahhhh," the old man groaned irritably. "So how long are you going
to be in town Owen?"

"Leaving today," Owen told him. "Tomorrow if I can get those blasted
people to see reason. Speaking of which, Jebb still around?"

"Jebb, eh?" Mejeb asked. "He's probably at his place. Doesn't come
around much these days. Didn't know you two where ever friends."

"We weren't, I need to cash in a few favors from him."

"Favors," the man nodded. "Not sure he works much anymore, but go
take a look. He might be able to help you."

Before Han could even begin to figure out what sort of favor Owen was
looking for, he spotted Leia rounding the corner and making her way
towards them. The old man, upon seeing her struggled to his feet and
held out his hand. Leia smiled politely when she saw him, shifted
her packages all to one side and shook his hand.

"Ma'am," Mejeb stated. "It is a pleasure to see you here. Been a
long time since we had someone of your stature around here."

"It's a pleasure to met you," Leia said, shifting her bags again when
he let go of her hand. Han walked over to his wife, took some of her
bags and added them to his own.

"You two all finished here? Can we go now?" Owen asked.

"All finished," Leia said with a smile, having no clue of the things
that were said about her brother this time. "This should be plenty
of supplies to get us back to Coruscant."

"And we'll have something to eat besides ration bars," Han teased
without any real humor. Leia must have noticed his attitude because
she glanced in his direction before turning her attention back to the
two other men. Mejeb excused himself and went inside, claiming he
could not stand the sun as long as he used to. He disappeared
through the door still mumbling to himself.

"Well if you two are done, then I will leave you now," Owen said
addressing both Han and Leia. "There is something I need to take care
of now before things get any worse."

Leia was about to say something, but Han cut her off. He wasn't sure
what the man was up to, and he wanted more then anything to find
out. Knowing Leia she would just have reminded him that they would
be leaving soon and let him go on his way. However Han decided to
try something else.

"You were kind enough to help us out," Han said as nicely as he could
manage. "We would like to see if we could help you." He shook his
head at his wife's questioning look and she did not speak, however
Owen did not take the offer well.

"I do not need a babysitter," Owen snapped. "I survived on this
world long enough and don't need you two tagging along to keep an eye
on me."

"We were only offering to help," Leia said calmly.

"Well I did not ask for your help," Owen scolded her. "I was asked to
help in locating supplies, and I did my part. I don't need any help
from the likes of you."

"You watch your mouth, old man," Han warned stepping in front of his
wife. "Don't forget who you are talking to."

"How can I forget?" Owen asked. "I am reminded about who she is
every time I look at her." Owen turned and stormed away from the
couple, leaving them watching him in bemusement.

"That man is impossible!" Han exclaimed. "How Luke was able to deal
with him I will never understand."

"Speaking of Luke," Leia said as they turned away from the retreating
man. "We should be getting back. I would like to talk to him before
his uncle returns."

"I think that is a wonderful idea," Han said. They set out at a
leisurely pace in the general direction on the ship. It was not a
long walk, but they both knew that it would be the last alone time
they would have until they reached Coruscant. The prospect of
spending that many days trapped on a ship with so much tension was
not on Han's list of things he wanted to do in his life. Someone was
likely to get hurt. Where he knew who he wouldn't mind getting a
broken bone or two, he had a feeling it would be Luke that would be
on the receiving end of most of the pain during this trip.

"He wont if I can help it," Leia said sadly. He decided not to scold
her about reading his thoughts. She was too worried and he did not
want to do anything to upset her any more then she already was. "I
don't understand what is going on here, Han," Leia said, glancing his
way for a split second. "At first I could not figure out why Luke
was so upset about his family's return. I would be overjoyed to have
my father back." She paused long enough to offer a sad sigh. "But
now I think I understand it a bit more. But what was that about this
morning?"

It was a question Han had been asking himself since they left the
ship that morning, but he had yet to come up with any answers.

"Maybe you could ask Luke about it when we get back. He will
normally talk to you after a while. I'm sure you could get him to
open up."

"I'm not so sure this time Han. You didn't by chance notice how both
Mara and Luke were acting this morning did you?"

"What the way Luke was trying to get away, or the way Mara was ready
to blast that guy?" Han asked, wondering what his wife was getting at.

"No, besides that. Neither one of them would look me in the eye. Do
you think that they did...?"

"That's <i>their</i> business," Han insisted. "He may be your
brother, but he has a right to his privacy."

He watched his wife ponder what he had said. And he knew he was
right. No matter how much he wanted to know, he would not let Leia
add to the problem by going after the information. "Besides," he
continued. "If that's what happened, then let it go. The way Luke
was acting, he looked like he could use comfort. Not that Mara would
be the first person I would turn to for comfort, but then we never
really do understand Luke."

He smiled when Leia laughed. He wanted her to stop worrying but the
only way to do that was to resolve the base problem. Han had no idea
how they would accomplish that, seeing how they did not know exactly
what was going on. He was beginning to think that Luke talking would
be the only way they were going to settle things on this trip.

"Well, it looks like you all survived a night alone with them." Both
Han and Leia turned to see who had called out to them. There were
only a handful of people that they knew on the planet and Fixer and
Camie were easy to pick out of the few people that were on the street.

"Don't mind my husband," Camie said, taking a few of the bags from
Leia. "Let me help you with those. Taking them back to the ship?"

"Yes," Leia said, though Han knew she wanted to complain about the
unwanted assistance. It was her diplomatic training, he knew that
kept her from doing it. "We're preparing to leave. Just gathering
the supplies we would need."

"We'll help you with these," Camie said, throwing a warning look at
her husband. He looked at her then at Han before offering to take
some of the things out of Han's hands.

"Thank you," Leia said before they continued their walk.

"What was this about surviving the night?" Han asked Fixer.

"Like I told you," Fixer said. "Owen Lars is not the easiest man to
get along with. I'm not sure that I could stand having to spend that
much time alone with him. I'm not sure how Luke put up with him."

"You <i>also</i> said that before," Han reminded the other
man. "What do you mean? What did he do?"

"Owen?" Fixer asked, looking around nervously. "I don't really know."

"What do you know?" Leia asked.

"Fixer, tell them," Camie pleaded. Fixer looked at his wife for a
moment then sighed before he started his tale.

"There is not much to tell," he said. "Luke was always coming into
town whenever he could. Most times very upset."

"What was he upset about," Leia asked. <i>That was not a good thing
to tell her,<i> Han thought. However Fixer did not know Leia very
well and did not understand how protective she had become of her
brother. Fixer looked at her and shrugged.

"I wouldn't know," he said. "Wormie was a nuisance. I tried to
ignore him as much as I could."

"Fixer!" Camie exclaimed. Han had to smile. That part of Luke's
childhood was no secret, but it was refreshing to see that Fixer was
not trying to cover it up.

"What?" Fixer exclaimed. "I'm only telling them the truth. He never
talked to me. And there's no one around anymore that he <i>did</i>
talk to."

"So you really can't tell us anything then can you?" Leia
asked. "Only that Luke was upset a lot?"

"There was a lot about ... um ... Luke that no one really understood.
The biggest part for me was how he could go on defending his uncle,
no matter what he did."

"The man was a pain," Camie said, taking over when Fixer stopped
talking. "You could never say anything about Owen Lars without Luke
saying something back. I just don't understand how he could do it
after the way he was treated."

"How was he treated?" Leia asked.

"Camie, why did you even say that?" Fixer demanded. Then turned back
to Han and Leia. "We don't really know. There were a lot of rumors,
but nothing that Luke ever admitted to, and we never had any real
proof."

"Back then we all thought that he would hit Luke, but he always
denied it. We never had any proof and if he was not saying it
happened, then there was not really any reason for us to try and find
out the truth."

"There was one day that I still am not sure about," Camie said,
looking at her husband as if she expected him to make her stop
talking. "Luke came into town one day, and he looked like he was
ready to cry. But he wouldn't talk to anyone. He just wanted to
know where Biggs was. When we told him that he had went home he
left."

"So what's so strange about that?" Han asked, unsure where she was
trying to go with her tale.

"He had a nice black eye starting to form," she said. "And he never
offered an explanation. Then he didn't come back into town for
almost two weeks. By then no one thought to ask him about it, so I
never found out what happened."

"That could mean anything," Leia said.

"Like I said," Camie said with a shrug. "It was just always
something that bothered me."

By the time Camie had finished telling her tale they had reached the
Fire. Han wanted to talk to his wife, so he gestured for everyone to
go onboard, and then pulled his wife to the side.

"What is it Han," Leia asked.

"I just wanted to ask you to not make a scene out of this," Han said,
already knowing what Leia would do once on board. "This trip is
going to be hard enough without adding more into it. Let's try and
leave everything alone until we get home."

"Han I need to know what happened," Leia pleaded.

"I understand that, but it can wait until we get home." He thought
she would argue but Leia finally agreed with some reluctance, and
they walked together into the ship.

----Sherry is next!-----

Oops forgot I wrote chapter ten <lol> .. so here you go .. can Leia and Han
shed some light on the events of the morning and more importantly, can they
get Luke to talk about his childhood? Questions, questions .. but will they
get an answer?

Chapter Ten
(by Una)

Han noticed that Leia stood reluctantly in the corridor just off the ramp,
talking softly with Camie. Fixer shoved their provisions into his arms and
Han frowned.
He watched as the burly man tucked at his wife's elbow and after the little
woman had said good bye to Leia ushered her out of the ship.

Taking a step towards Leia, Han saw the determination on her face and he
knew her curiosity had piqued rather than subsided.

"Now, honey, I thought we had agreed?" he asked but knew it was in vain.
Putting their provisions onto the floor he came over to her.

"Han, I cannot just stand by and wait till we reach Coruscant. I need to
talk to Luke," Leia said and tried to pass her husband but Solo grabbed her
by her shoulders gently and turned her that she was standing in front of him.

"Now, now, your Worshipfulness," he said with a grin. "Luke will never talk
to you about what happened in Mara's cabin ..."

"Of course he will, I'm his sister," Leia answered with a huff. "We are
twins, he will tell me."

Han laughed and hugged his determined wife close. "No, he won't, Leia, it
is a guy thing. Because you are his sister, and his twin at that, he will
stall the subject and won't budge. I on the other hand am a guy and a nice
talk amongst buddies will perhaps enlighten us a bit."

Leia had to smile at that. <i>Trust a rogue to be so devious</i>, she
thought and tiptoed to put a small but lingering peck on her husband's lips.

"Pray, please tell me, and what should I do while you have your guy to guy
talk?" she asked with a grin and Han answered it with a glint in his eyes.

"You, my wonderful Highnessness, will pry out some information from the
fierce yet reluctant Miss Jade ..."

"Mara? Han you are impossible ..:" Leia cut in but stopped when Han put a
finger onto her lips.

"Mara might not divulge any information but you are the diplomat in this
family, I know you notice as much what people say and also what they do not
say. You will do beautifully, my love," Han replied and gave her another kiss.

Leia shot her husband a look then she nodded. "All right, I will do so ..
but you better come up with some information, you Nerf," she said teasingly
and the couple shared a smile with each other.

"How can you ever doubt me, my love?" Han shot back and after a quick hug,
he picked up his earlier discarded boxes and bags and made his way towards
the small mess area of the Fire.

Leia watched her husband lovingly as he sauntered off and she had to
suppress a giggle. Thinking about what they had just talked about sobered
her up though and with a deep sigh, she took a deep breath and walked the
few steps towards the cockpit where she felt faintly the presence of the
trader.

------------

Mara had felt the inquisitive tendril in the Force and for a moment, she
decided to cloak herself but then thought against it. With a sigh she
pulled up a leg onto the seat of the pilot's seat and rested her chin on
the raised up knee.

"Come in," she said after she had heard the announcing beep that someone
requested entry. With a swooshing sound the cockpit door opened and the two
women watched each other from carefully guarded eyes.

"Can we talk, Mara?" Leia asked and when Mara motioned for her to take the
co-pilot's seat, Leia settled herself opposite the trader.

Looking around, the former Princess nodded appreciatively when she saw the
modification as well as state of the art state the cockpit was in.

"It sure looks better than the Falcon," Leia commented with a smile and
turned her brown eyes towards the red head.

"Surely you haven't come just to tell me that, Senator?" Mara asked and
raised an eyebrow at her.

"No, of course not," Leia replied and smoothed an imaginary crease from her
skirt.

Silence stretched between those two very different women and silently, Leia
chided herself that she had been so easily talked into this conversation by
her husband.

"Mara, I know you and Luke said you didn't want to talk about what happened
this morning .. " Leia started and stopped when Mara moved slightly, the
stiffening of her shoulders telling her more than the shuttered expression
on the trader's face.

"But I really need to know. For Luke's sake. If the Lars hide something
that will hurt him, I need to know to prevent it..."

Mara snorted at that and shook her head. "They already hurt him enough,"
Mara snapped then with an audible click of her teeth, she shut her mouth.

"Mara, what happened?" Leia pleaded.

"You saw what happened ... "

"Well you and Luke obviously emerging from your cabin, yes," Leia started,
then clucked her tongue. "Surely that would have raised a few eyebrows with
the Lars but not enough to make you so furious. You looked at Owen with
murder in your eyes ..."

"What Skywalker and I did or did not isn't anyone's business," Mara gritted
through clenched teeth and for a moment, Leia was taken aback by the
ferociousness the redhead spoke.

"Well yes, of course, Mara," Leia replied. "I know you and Luke have been
bunking together .. especially on missions so it is no surprise for me or
Han .. but you know .. the Lars' .. well they are of a different generation
... if you had explained to them..."

"Explained?" Mara almost yelled when she jumped to her feet. "Owen Lars did
not even want an explanation, he jumped to conclusions and made very clear
what he thinks of Skywalker and of me for that matter."

"I really do not care what a former farmer from a tenth rate dust ball of a
planet thinks of me, but I do not stand by when one of my friends are hurt
because of something I had decided. <i>I</i> told Skywalker to share the
cabin with me .. he slept on the floor, it was <i>my</i> decision but who
gets hurt? Skywalker ... and just because this nerfherder of an uncle
cannot accept for who Luke is or whose parents you and he had."

Leia stared at the woman who was now pacing in the small space in front of her.

"Mara, why will Luke be hurt?"

The trader swung around and faced the woman. Then shaking her head, she
dropped herself into her seat and drew both her legs up.

"I can't tell you. I don't know what is happening anymore, but let me tell
you this, if Owen Lars comes within striking distance of Skywalker, he
will be dead."

Leia shuddered at the cold determination in the woman's voice and she had
no doubts that Mara Jade would fulfill her promise.

--------------
After Han had put away their provisions under the scrutinising eyes of Beru
Lars, the Corellian excused himself and set out to find the elusive Jedi
Master.
Han found him in the cargo bay, huddled up against the bulk head and
staring out at the opposite walls where a few crates of what seemed to be
flasks Allonovian cognac were stored.

Strolling over to the huddled figure, he slipped down to the ground beside
Skywalker and stared at the crates, mimicking his friend.

After a while though, Han Solo thought it was enough. Shifting
uncomfortably, he turned towards Luke and watched the worry lines around
his eyes and also a distinct discolouring on his cheek and mouth.

"Okay, kid, want to tell me how you got that shiner round your mouth and
cheek?" Han asked and for a moment he could feel the younger man trembling
beside him.

Slowly, Luke turned his head to face Han, the first time acknowledging the
presence of his best friend.

"No, it's nothing." Luke breathed out softly and moved to stand, but a
restraining hand pulled him back down on the floor.

"Don't give me that, Kid. Now out with it .. from the looks of it the hand
print on your face is too big to be Jade's, though she would be my first
guess. But then again ... slapping is not her style," Han joked but the
look on Luke's face sobered him immediately.

"What happened, Luke?" Han urged. "Do you have a problem with Jade?"

"Mara doesn't have anything to do with it," Luke said tersely and continued
to stare at the crates.

"Well, then who has?" Han relentlessly followed. "You have your family and
friends around and you still sit here, moping. I guess that smells of a
problem or two ..."

"Han," Luke sighed and looked at his long standing friend. "Just forget it,
okay? There is no problem, it is just ... everything is so overwhelming and
I .. I need to get it all straightened out first ..."

"Yeah, I guess I would be overwhelmed as well if I woke up in Jade's cabin
in the morning and still be alive ..." Han smirked when he saw the blush
creeping up into Luke's face.

<i>Gotcha,</i> Han thought.

"Ha-an," Luke whined and shook his head. "It's not like that .. why does
everyone think we did something wrong? I .. we ... just talked ... and I
slept on the floor not in Mara's bed like Owen thinks, doing whatever he
thinks we've done."

The young Jedi Master clamped his mouth shut. <i>Great, just great,</i> he
chided himself. <i>I almost told him Mara and I had been necking and stuff.</i>
A new flush crept up form his neck into his face when images of exactly
what had transpired between him and Mara.

His hands flexed and unflexed involuntarily as if he could still feel the
satiny texture of Mara's skin beneath his fingertips. Drawing in a shaky
breath, Luke tried to store the unwanted images back into a place he had
reserved long ago for just that, with a huge sign of 'Mara - do not open!'
on it.

Han had watched Luke and the Corellian's keen eyes did miss little and now
that he saw the new blush, he had to grin inwardly.

<i>Just talking, huh? Kid, you really need to do something about that,</i>
Solo thought but something else nudged his mind.

"What does Owen think you did?" he blurted out and saw Luke blanching
shortly before the calm and expressionless Jedi mask was back in place.

"Nothing," Luke mumbled.

"Luke, don't try to pull Bantha wool over my eyes! If Mara had anything to
say this morning your uncle Owen would now fertilising whatever plant life
you have on this dust ball," he held up his hand and ticked off his fingers.

"You sporting a shiner, Mara's out for dear uncle Owen's blood, Owen
harping about you not being honourable .. which is a pile of Hutt shit if
you ask me .. so come on, Kid, don't take me for a ride on a Star Destroyer."

Luke sighed and he drew up his legs so that his elbows came to rest on his
knees, like this he cradled his head in his hands and inhaled deeply.

"I can't Han ... I can't," Luke whispered and Solo had to strain his ears
to understand him.

"Don't you ever have the feeling that everything that ever occurred to you
in the past is all long gone and forgotten and then all of a sudden it will
come haunt you and you have the feeling that'll blow up right into your
face?" Luke asked in a rush and faced his friend. "When I thought Aunt Beru
was dead I hurt for a long time. But I got over it ... I had to let her go
.. now she is back .. and ...."

"And Owen is back too," Han cut in, his face grim. "What did he do to you,
Luke? Was he the one who decorated your face like this? That's why Mara got
furious?"

"No!" Luke almost yelled, then hid his face behind his hands, rubbing it
furiously. "It's not like that ... it was a misunderstanding and Mara got
furious. Let it be, Han, please."

Han Solo, the smuggler, was never known to be a soft man but Han Solo, the
friend and father to three beautiful and bright children, husband to an
exceptionally clever and beautiful woman, was different and even though
without the Force he could feel the agony the young man was in.

Raising his arm, he wrapped it around the younger man's shoulder and
squeezed it.

"You are not alone, kid, tell us what is troubling you when you are ready,
okay?"

"Okay," Luke breathed and looked up. "Thanks, Han."

The ex-smuggler struggled to his feet, several bones popping. "You're
welcome, kid. Just remember that you have family, <i>real</i> family who
stands up for you no matter what."

With this he stretched and eyeing the crates with the cognac, he motioned
towards it.

"I guess I'll find Jade and ask her if we can ransack her storage, I think
we'll need it tonight."
-----------------------

tbc by Angela :)

..oke, I'm gonna go ahead and post this bit since Angela is
computerless atm but....this was written by Angela so all the praise
goes to her :))
Sherry

Part 11
(Angela)

Leia left the bridge of the ship in no better mood then she had been
in before she stepped foot in there. Deciding that she needed to put
the supplies away she headed in that direction. She rounded the
corner and stopped when she saw the familiar face sitting at the
table.

"Mrs. Lars," she said, politely. "How are you doing?"

"There's no need to worry about me, dear," she said just as
politely. "Everything will work itself out."

"Have you been aboard the ship all morning?" Leia asked, realizing
they had left and she wondered if Luke had even came out to talk to
her. He probably had, but he was not here now and that left the
woman alone.

"I went out and walked around a bit. It was nice to see that some
things haven't changed."

"It must be hard having all this to deal with so soon after your
release, but at least Luke is here," Leia said venturing into an area
she was not sure she wanted to start this conversation but knowing it
was already too late. "He wanted to see you."

Beru tried not to laugh, it was obvious, but it came through
nonetheless. Leia caught the pain in those eyes at the mention of
her nephew.

"Surely you are glad to see him."

"At the mention of Luke's name I was overwhelmed. However I was not
prepared for the changes that have taken place," the older woman
confided. "The sweet little boy I used to watch sleep is gone.
Chased away by the same things that ruined his father."

Leia was shocked by the statement. She wondered if she should remind
the woman that when she talked about Luke's father she was also
talking about hers. She decided to let the comment pass. She was
not affected by what people said about her father. She knew first
hand what he had turned into. She had to note however that after all
this time of not hearing about her parents, her father before he
turned, and her mother. I was strange that they talked about them so
easily. It shocked her more that guardians could keep a secret of
that magnitude away from a child.

"Luke is a very liked person in the galaxy," Leia said, wondering if
she could do anything to change the look of disappointment in the
woman's face. "He has saved the galaxy more times than I care to
count. He was there when the Empire was overthrown, and he has been
there doing what he could ever since. How could you not be proud of
a man like that?"

"You would say anything to support your family. That's what family
do. And I cannot believe what people here have been telling me.
Watching what you see on the news is nothing. To know a person you
have to be near them. To see them in their everyday lives. It's
then that you get a look at what they are really like."

"And how have you done this with Luke?" Leia asked, seeing a flaw in
the other woman's thinking. "You have not even spent 24 hours with
him, yet you claim to know everything about him. How is that
possible?"

"I don't claim to know everything about him. But I have seen
enough. Luke has changed. This war that he was in, the lifestyle he
choose, it changed him."

"Well of course it would have changed him. Even if he had stayed
here on Tatooine he would have changed, but what makes you think that
those changes are bad?"

"I've seen everything that I need to see," Beru said stubbornly.

"I don't think you've seen anything," Leia insisted. "I <I>know</I>
how much you returning has affected Luke. Whatever it is you think
you saw, you did not see the real Luke. Whatever happened was not a
normal day in <I>any</I> of our lives. And if you think that was,
then you don't know as much about people as you think you do." Leia
took a breath, realize she was jumping into the exact situation she
had not wanted to venture into at that moment.

"I am not trying to be disrespectful to you in any way. I just think
that you are not giving him a chance. He told me how growing up on
this planet, everyone dreams of a happier more enriching life. Why
would you throw away that unless you knew your feelings were based on
the truth? It's at least something to think about." Leia stood,
intending to leave. She could not believe that she had ranted on like
that. However she could not understand what had happened to cause
the woman, who merely had to look at her nephew the night before to
cause her to smile could have changed her mind so quickly.
"I need to check and see if we are all set to meet our departure
time."

"We will not be leaving tonight, " Owen said as he stormed into the
room. "We will wait until tomorrow."

Leia's eyes bulged and she spun to face the back of the retreating
man who turned and took a seat next to where his wife was seated.
She sighed in frustration and turned, walking up to the cockpit
door. She announced her presence then stuck her head inside.

"Mara, we have a ... situation out here. I think you are going to want
to be here for this."

Mara turned and looked at her, wondering what could possibly be going
wrong this time. Knowing Leia would not tell her what was going on
unless she followed she picked herself up out of the pilot's chair
and followed Leia further into her ship, only to slow when they
neared the food prep area. Reaching out she picked up the traces of
both Owen and Beru Lars. Mara sighed. If it had to do with that
pair there was no telling what the problem was.

Rounding the corner she stood patiently waiting for Leia to explain
what she had thought was so important.

"Mr. Lars," Leia began, and she was not happy. "Could you please
explain why you think we should wait until tomorrow to leave?"

"It was not a suggestion," Owen informed them. "We will not be
leaving until tomorrow." Mara felt her blood boil.

"I am the captain of this ship. It is my decision when we lift off."

"Well I would say that you have no choice in this matter. Miss Chief
of State here and her husband made it clear that they need us to come
with you. If that is the case you either wait or we stay here. It's
your choice."

Leia reached out and took hold of Mara arm, neatly preventing her
from lunging at the infuriating man now sitting smugly at her
table. They both walked back out of the room, standing at the end
of the hall, as far as they could get from the food prep area as they
could in the cramped confines of that area of the ship.

"Mara he's right," Leia told her. "We need to take him with us.
Let's give him this one, maybe it will help ease things with him a
little. In the mean time I will do what I can to make this all
bearable, for all of us." She turned to leave, looking back at Mara
one more time. "Though the sooner this is over the better."

-----tbc----by Una :) --------

Hi All,
stupido me forgot I wrote part 12 .. yes I did .. LOL .. send it from the
page rather than from my email programme so I didn't find the original post
.. sooooo here it is PART 12

Part 12
(by Una)

"Sithspit!" Mara swore underneath her breath and waited till Leia had
disappeared into the small food prep area again. For a moment, anger
at the Lars' welled up inside her and with the utmost control she
tried to gauge the feeling.

Her hands trembled and clenching them together didn't help to steady
them. <i>Blast them, blast them all!</i>

<i>*Anger is of the Dark Side, Jade*</i>, she heard Luke's voice
effortlessly in her mind and she snorted.

<i>*Well let's see how calm and collected you are when you know that
your wonderful uncle has decided that we won't take off till
tomorrow*</i>, Mara sent him back, her feet bringing her
unconsciously closer to the cargo hold where she felt his Force
presence like a shining beacon.

Mara could feel the tremble of suppressed anger coming from Skywalker
and she clucked her tongue.

"Thought so, Skywalker," Mara commented under her breath.

"Talking to yourself, Jade?" Han Solo grinned to himself when he came
upon Mara Jade.

The trader looked up and shot the ex-smuggler a scrutinising
look. "Has anyone told you that you have a suicidal streak?" she shot
at him and Solo winked at her.

"Must be a Solo-Skywalker trait then, we are all suicidal ..."

"Talk only about yourself, you Nerf herder," Leia's voice came from
the end of the corridor and both turned towards her. When she had
approached them, she slipped an arm around her husband's waist and
hugged him close.

"I think we better prepare some dinner ... I don't think I can bear
this man any longer without a good meal in my stomach," Leia said and
Han grinned.

"Is that your 50 credit way of saying I should start cooking, my
love?" he asked and winked.

"Of course not," Leia exclaimed and slapped him on his shoulder. "I'm
sure Mara and I can come up with something edible, am I right, Mara?"

Brown eyes turned to the trader and saw the sour expression on the
woman's face.

"Solo, you are right .. there is a definite suicidal tendency in that
family yours," Mara dead panned and all three laughed.

"Well, ladies, you must excuse me, the cooker is calling me," Han
said. "Any good advice to give me, Jade? Is anything off-limits?"

"No, do your best, Solo, just make sure everything is back in place
afterwards," Mara said and watched as Leia accompanied her husband
back to the food prep area. Before she turned towards the cargo hold
she noticed that Leia pinched Solo's behind and Mara shook her head
at that.

She found Luke in no time, still sitting leant against the bulk head.
Walking up slowly to him, she scanned the area and unclipped her
saber from her belt.

"Get up, Skywalker," she demanded when he looked at her
questioningly. "Get up, you and I will spar, good and hard." She
offered him a hand which he took.

With a tired grin, Luke let himself be pulled to his feet and
unclipped his saber likewise.

"As you wish, my lady," Skywalker said as he stood facing her, saber
in hand and ready.

Mara snorted at that and ignited her saber with the customary snap
hiss. Luke waited and when Mara attacked he brought up the hilt of
his saber up at the last moment, igniting it.

Parrying a viscous blow that was directed at this head, he shoved her
back and waited till she had regained her footing. Ceaselessly, it
seemed, the two Jedi fought together, parrying, attacking, blocking
and turning. To anyone it seemed that they were both out for each
other's blood, but the instructed eye knew that they were
participating in a very intricate dance. A dance that courted as well
as distanced.

For quite a while only the hisses of the light sabers as well as
their laboured breathing could be heard and the two Jedi were
oblivious to the time that passed. The Force was flowing freely
between them, all surpassing and enwrapping and the young couple
thrived in the flow of the Force.

Leia had felt the tingling of the Force and curiously she had excused
herself from the small group in the mess hall and down to the cargo
hold. With baited breath she watched the two Jedi fighting with each
other, unconsciously flinching when Mara's saber almost hit and
maimed her brother, always relaxing when Luke bested his female
opponent. Only from the smiles on both their faces she could tell
that this was only a friendly match and not a matter of life and
death.

Watching them for a few minutes she had to admit that both were good
fighters, equals even, and for a moment Leia doubted she would ever
reach the mastery her brother and his friend displayed.

Leia was so engrossed in the fight before her that she almost did not
noticed that she was not alone anymore. Looking sideways she saw Beru
standing beside her, clutching one hand against her mouth while Owen
looked at the two Jedi with a deep frown on his face. Leia could see
the tic in the jaw of the older man and she doubted he approved of
the fight.

Luke, who had been aware of Leia ever since she had approached, felt
the sudden change in his sister's demeanour and when he turned his
head slightly he saw rather than felt his aunt and uncle standing in
the shadows.

His step faltered when he tried to parry another blow coming from
Mara and her blade cut into his upper arm. The cry that echoed from
two different throats reverberated in the small cargo hold, and Leia
rushed forward.

"LUKE!" Leia cried and squatted down beside her twin, while Mara,
cursing like a Costurian Bounty Tracker, was already pulling open his
tunic.

"What got into you, you stupid Nerf?" the trader asked and when she
felt a shadow falling on her she looked up, directly into the furious
eyes of Owen Lars.

Only due to her quick reaction to Luke's mis-stepping, had she been
able to twist her saber around otherwise she would have dissected
Skywalker with her saber.

"Get away from him!" Owen bellowed and made the mistake of trying to
pull the trader off his nephew.

Mara's hand snapped up and before anyone could react she had Owen by
the lapel of his threadbare tunic and was pinning him with one hand
while the other arm was raised to strike out at him.

<i>*Mara, NO!*</i> Luke's voice was strong in her mind and only with
a faint nod of her head did she indicate that she had heard him.
<i>*Don't do this, Mara, please.*</i>

<i>*This man needs to be taught a lesson and I'm more than willing to
do the teaching,*</i> Mara sent him back.

"Mara, please," Leia's voice cut into their silent argument, and put
a hesitating hand onto Mara's arm. "Owen only wanted to help," she
turned towards the elderly man. "Isn't that so?"

"Speak only for yourself, <i>Madam President of state</i>," Owen spit
out and was immediately yanked around by the trader. "Get your hands
off, woman!"

"Mara, do as he asks," Luke pleaded with her. He had come over to her
and with one hand on the small cut on his forearm he had put the
other on Mara's hand that was still raised to attack.

"Luke," Mara started but the look out of blue, sad eyes made her
stop. Reluctantly, she let go of Lars, then turned away from all of
them.

"Need any help with that cut?" she asked in a cold voice and Luke
nodded.

"Yes, thank you, Jade," Luke said and took a step towards her when a
hand came down onto his shoulder.

"You will not be alone with that woman until you have put that mess
in order,"
Lars bellowed and Mara quirked an eyebrow at him.

"What mess?" she asked. "The mess you inflicted on Luke when he was
still a kid?"

"Mara, please!" Luke cut in and yanked himself free from his uncle's
grasp.

Blue eyes bored into green and for a short fleeting moment, Mara
could feel Luke's agony and an image of a long forgotten past flashed
in her mind. A young boy, not more than ten years old, huddling in a
corner of a darkened work room, aching and bleeding.

"I'm sorry," Mara whispered and squeezed her eyes shut when Luke
enforced his barriers, shutting her out.

Leia had watched the exchange and with a last disdainful look at Owen
Lars, she softly touched her twin's arm.

"I will help you with the cut," she said and led Luke away.

Silence lay heavily on the cargo hold and when Beru moved to stand
beside her husband, Mara looked up.

"Why do you hate Luke so much?" she asked. "Do you hold his parentage
against him? Do you really think he is less a man just because he is
a Jedi?"

When both elders remained silent, Mara snorted. "I really can't
understand why Luke loves you, and why he always spoke so
affectionately of the both of you ... I had always envied him, but
now I know that I prefer the threat and deviousness of the Emperor to
your open hatred."

"How dare you compare us to the Emperor?" Beru asked aloud and took a
step forward.

"I dare and do as I please, <i>Aunt</i> Beru," Mara shot back. "You
are not better than the Emperor, at least I knew what I was up
against, but Luke .. Luke needed love and care and not abuse and
senseless trashing..."

"Who are you to know what Luke needs?" Owen cut in and took a step
forward, raising up to his full height that surpassed Mara's by
almost two heads. "You are just a woman who threw all caution to
the wind, with no morals and no sense of honour. But no more, I won't
have my nephew degrade his family with this kind of behaviour."

Mara tried to get her anger controlled that steadily built up inside
her again. <i>Degrading his family?</i> she asked silently. <i>The
only one degrading the family was Owen Lars himself.</i>

Turning her back on the two, she made her way towards the cockpit.

------------------
"Leia, stop fussing, it is just a scratch!" Luke said for the
umpteenth time and shooed his sister's hands away. He had slipped
into a light trance earlier and already the bloody scab he had been
sporting on his biceps was but a faint, red scar.

"Well let me at least apply the bacta pack," Leia said in a tone she
normally only reserved for her children, patient but determined.

"Honey, let him be," Han cut in from the stove. The Corellian turned
and watched his wife still fussing over her twin brother. When he
looked up he saw Mara just passing the door way.

"Hey, Jade, mind if we take a bottle or two from the Allonovian
cognac you have in your cargo hold? For dinner."

Mara stopped, watching the three people in the small space of her
mess hall.

"Sure, Solo, take as many as you like," she replied and she was about
to turn when Solo called out again.

"Where do you think you are going? We have dinner in a minute ..",
sounding like a father chiding his small child.

"Thanks, Solo, but I'll pass. I'll be in the cockpit." Mara said, and
turned her head slightly when she heard the Lars coming down the
corridor towards her. "I don't think certain people will stomach
anything if I participate."

Solo frowned and watched as Jade turned and made quickly for the
cockpit. Luke just stared at her then in a rush he struggled to his
feet and tore after her.

Leia and Han just looked at each other, and with a shake of his head,
Solo answered his wife's inquisitive stare, and drew her into his
arms.
---------------

<i>*Mara, open up!*</i> Luke sent her through the closed door of the
cockpit. He heard the sound of feet further down the corridor and
when he turned he saw his uncle staring him down.

<i>*Mara, please, open the door,*</i> Luke sent again when a whole
wave of resentment and anger washed over him.

"I thought I had taught you better than sniffing at women's doors
like that, Luke," Owen Lars' voice reverberated through the small
space of the craft. "You Jedi are always the same."

At that moment, the door of the cockpit opened and Mara, green eyes
glistening, grabbed Luke by his collar and pulled him into the space
beyond the door. Slapping the controls she locked the door securely
and leant against it.

Luke slumped into the co-pilot's seat and the two of them just stared
at each other.

"By the Force, how did you manage to keep up with this?" Mara asked
all of a sudden and pushed herself away from the door. "I think I
would have killed him if I had been you."

"Mara," Luke said with a sigh and caught her on of her hands in his
own. Drawing her nearer, he shook his head. "You wouldn't have killed
him just as much as you didn't kill the Emperor."

"But the Emperor had guards and officers, Owen was alone ..." Mara
stopped when she saw Luke's pained face.

Stepping nearer, she came to stand between his legs and Luke
encircled her waist with his arms and rested his head against her
stomach. For a moment she stiffened, still trying to overcome her
inhibition of shirking close human encounters. Hesitating slightly,
Mara relaxed and rose her hands to his head, slowly brushing some
errant bangs out of his face.

"Mara, please, have dinner with us tonight, I don't think I can bear
it ...." Luke mumbled against the fabric of her flightsuit and for a
moment Mara closed her eyes.

Hugging each other, they remained in this position, unsure of how to
deal with the past and their current situation.

Caressing the silky hair between her fingers, Mara's eyes opened when
Luke stood up, still not breaking their contact. Mesmerized by the
Jedi Master's slow movements, she watched him bright eyed as he
cupped her face with both hands and tilted his head towards her, his
lips firmly coming to rest on her mouth.

The fluttering sensations in her stomach that she had felt the night
before were back again but something had changed. Before, it had been
a feeling of anticipation and heady passion, but this time Mara felt
a calm and also gratitude settle inside herself that she could not
describe.

When their kiss ended, both breathless, Luke rested his head against
Mara's, gently caressing the nape of her neck.

"I need you, friend," Luke whispered, almost inaudibly.

"You are not alone in this, Luke," Mara answered just as softly. "I
won't leave you."

With this they exchanged another brief kiss, then they prepared
themselves to face the world and with it the barbs of Owen Lars.
--------------------

tbc by .... <drum roll please> .... SHERRY :)

Chapter 13
(Sherry)

The tension in the air of the small galley area hung heavily,
enwrapping all the people in the room in its thickness. No one
spoke and they all stared at their plates as if they would suddenly
disappear if they didn't.

Luke chewed his food as if it were leather, each bite seeming like
it took forever to slide down his throat. He knew his uncle, and
himself, were the cause of the tension and it bothered him that they
were all involved in this. Forcing his eyes up, he glanced at
Han. "Never knew you could cook this well, Han," he softly teased
his brother in law.

Han chuckled as they all relaxed a bit. "It helped that we picked
up the supplies earlier today, purchasing only the easiest things to
prepare."

Luke laughed with his friend, Leia and Mara smirking at them. Leia
patted Han's hand. "And thank goodness, Han knows how to cook,
otherwise we might starve."

They were all surprised at how sharply Beru's head snapped up. She
gazed with open amazement at Leia. "You don't know how to cook? You
can't feed your family?"

Leia's lips moved but no words came out for a few seconds. "I...I can
cook but I don't enjoy it. Han is much better at it."

Beru's gaze changed to Luke then Mara. "What about you? Will you be
able to cook for Luke when you're married?"

Except for Luke, whose gaze was back on his plate, they all stared
at Mara as she turned emerald eyes toward hardened blue ones. "Luke
is a grown man and can take care of himself." She bit out, ignoring
the married comment for the sake of her friend.

Beru shook her head. "Yes, but he needs a wife that can take care of
him."

Luke's fork clanging on his plate echoed through the room as he
suddenly couldn't take another bite. "Please don't discuss me as if
I'm not here, Aunt Beru."

Owen frowned at the younger man. "She's telling you right, Luke. I
can't believe you would get hooked up with this kind of a woman in
the first place."

Mara laid her own fork down. "This kind of a woman?"

Han and Leia glanced at each other then Han, as inconspicuous as he
could, reached over and slid Mara's steak knife away from her plate
to a safe distance away.

Mara didn't notice, her gaze boring through Owen. "You know nothing
about me yet make accusations like that?"

Owen leaned back in his chair, almost snarling at the redhead. "I
know nothing about you? Lets see...from your own words, I know you
were a toy that Palpatine played with, in what ways I'm not sure...."

Mara's breath inhaled slowly and loudly, her face flushing. Luke's
hand moved under the table, catching hers and squeezing it tightly
as Owen continued.

"You have no problems threatening to kill others, and absolutely no
problem bedding a man you are not married to. I think that's about
all I need to know about your character," he hissed.

Mara didn't get the chance to respond. Luke's voice was colder than
any of them had ever heard. "Uncle Owen, you have faults with me
and that's fine. I'll deal with it. But Mara is my friend and this
is her ship. You can either respect her or I will help you and Aunt
Beru find other accommodations."

Owen stared at Luke in amazement, never expecting his nephew to
speak in such a way. "I see that you've forgotten all the respect
that I tried to teach you, Luke. Perhaps you need another lesson,"
he openly threatened.

Owen didn't move a muscle as a snap hiss was heard and the tip of a
blue saber was suddenly pointed under his chin. He dared not move,
already feeling the heat from the tip that was so close to his
throat. Mara spat out each word, her voice almost trembling with
rage. "You will go through me first."

Leia glanced between Mara and Owen, seeing the murderous look in the
woman's eyes and the taunting look in Owen's. There was no doubt in
Leia's mind now, there was a lot more going on than she and Han knew
about. She had seen Mara's anger before but never like this, never
ready to take a life so easily. She watched them all carefully.

Mara didn't budge, her grip on the saber tight and the blade
steady. "Do you understand me? You feel the need to teach anyone a
lesson, it will be me you deal with."

Beru slowly laid her hand on Owen's arm, subtle encouragement to not
end his own life prematurely by arguing.

Owen's eyes narrowed. "I understand and I will keep that in mind."
There was no doubt in anyone's mind what he meant; he and Mara would
finish this at some point.

Luke slowly let out the breath he had been holding, breathing deeply
till he caught a faint glimpse of the images in Mara's head. Images
of how easily it would be to let her hand slip and bear her blade
through the man.

The Jedi Master leaned over closer to Mara, his arm on the back of
her chair with the other one rubbing her arm that held the
saber. "Your finger is right beside the turn off switch, Mara," he
half teased, half suggested to her.
Mara almost smiled at the widening eyes of Owen at Luke's gestures.
She tilted her head a bit closer to Luke's, careful not to move the
blade. "But it would be so easy, Luke," she whispered almost in a
sultry way.

"I know," Luke replied without thinking, his mind not on Owen but on
the face so close to his. "I mean, you don't want to do this. Think
of the mess it would make," he hoped joking with her would ease the
tension, the old tension and the new that sitting so close to her
and rubbing her arm had created. The Jedi watched as Mara bit her
lower lip then sighed, turning off the saber. He didn't move as her
face turned, so very close to his.

"Some messes are worth making," she replied, then quickly stood
before doing something she would regret.

Han watched with wide eyes as she hooked her saber, knowing that he
had been right. Something intense had occurred between Mara and
Luke and they had just confirmed it for him.

Luke stayed in his seat, his hand reaching out to the lightsaber
that hung on Mara's hip. His mind flashed back to the moment he had
given it to her as he ran his hand up and down the cylinder.

Mara almost chuckled as she placed her hand atop his at the hilt of
the hung saber. "Imagine how appropriate it would have been.
Anakin's saber killing his enemy now."

Luke shook his head, hearing the expected scraping of a chair being
shoved away from the table. He quickly glanced at his uncle, who
now towered above him across the table.

"Get your hands off her," the man bellowed, seeming to almost shake
the table with his anger.

Luke's hand slowly dropped from Mara, his eyes never leaving his
uncle's. As hard as he tried, he always felt helpless in the face
of such powerful anger. He always felt ten years old.

Owen shook his fist at Luke. "I have watched the two of you paw at
each other long enough. Have you no decency at all, Luke?"

Mara started to reply but was stopped as Luke stood, his motions
seeming tired as he did. His gaze was still on his uncle. "I'm
sorry."

Mara was fuming. "There's no reason for you to be sorry. We're
friends, we touch each other. No different than anyone else.
Luke," Mara grabbed Luke's arm and forced his gaze on her, "You're
the one who taught me not to shy away from contact, to not be cold."

Owen snorted. "I bet he did."

Mara ignored him, though her hand itched for her saber again. It
was as if Owen had read her mind because he suddenly remembered
something. "The saber you held to my throat. Where did you get it?"

Mara let go of Luke, her attention back on Owen as she unhooked the
saber once again, igniting the blue blade, careful to keep the tip
down beside the table. She chuckled, the possibilities endless on
how she could reply. Looking at the burly, already furious man, she
couldn't resist. "It was a gift from Luke to me."

"From Luke?" Owen glared at his nephew. "Where did you get it?"

Luke sighed. "Obi-Wan gave it to me."

Owen shook his head. "How could he do that, knowing the history
behind it."

Luke knew exactly what he meant. "You mean knowing that it belonged
to my father?" Luke knew that the Lars understood that the past was
uncovered. How they knew, he didn't know for sure but figured they
had asked many questions of the NR who found them when they learned
he was alive.

Owen nodded. "Ben gave you the saber and you gave it to..her?" His
dislike of Mara was stressed again.

Mara shut the saber down, holding the hilt up to look appreciatively
at it. "Yes, he did. Surprising mood considering how long I tried
to kill him."

Beru slowly stood to her feet. "K...kill Luke?"

Mara sighed. "Long story. The Emperor commanded me to kill Luke
and I tried, but couldn't quite make myself do it."

Mara was tremendously enjoying the rapidly changing expressions on
Owen's face...disgust, anger and she was sure she saw a bit of fear
mixed in at the mention of her former mission.

Owen glared between the two, his insides churning at the new
information. Not only was Luke defying all the morals he had tried
to teach him but was doing so with an imperial assassin.

Owen advanced around the table, everyone turning to face him as he
did. Ignoring the woman, he stood directly in front of
Luke. "You're worse than I thought. Tell me, Luke, what else have
you done in your life to mock what we taught you? How many of
Palpatine's toys have you bedded?"

Luke quickly stepped between Mara and Owen, knowing his friend would
defend herself as well as him. The Jedi Master stared defiantly at
his former guardian. "You know nothing of Mara Jade so don't pass
judgment on her. She was a pawn of the Emperor's just like my
father, but never a toy of his."

Luke said the words, though in the back of his mind the little voice
nagged that he wasn't so sure about that. Never had he asked Mara
how far her servitude to the Emperor went.

Owen's hand shot out, gripping Luke's jaw in a steel grip, his
fingers burrowing into the flesh, including the bruising jaw he had
created earlier. "No, perhaps not but she is a toy of yours, isn't
she?"

Owen's temper rose as Luke's hand instinctively went to his uncle's
arm. Owen increased his grip, eliciting a small whimper from
Luke. "Isn't she?"

Mara stood watching, slightly shocked from Luke's thoughts that
weren't as private as he though. The sound of her friend in pain
jolted her and she lashed out in the only way she knew.

Owen immediately released Luke, clutching himself as he fell to the
floor. Mara glared down at the man, having known her kick would
render any man helpless for a time. "I told you not to touch him,"
she growled.

She ignored the gasping looks around her, turning to Han. "Great
dinner, Solo. Now, if you all will excuse me, I think I'm turning
in for the night." She turned her gaze to Luke. "Coming, Skywalker?"

Luke only nodded yes, finding it hard to speak after Mara's last
act. He turned behind Mara, to follow her out of the galley but
Beru stepped in front of the door. "Don't you dare, young man."

Mara sighed; having thought that one lunatic in a family was enough
and not counting on two. She eyed the woman as Luke pushed past her
to take his aunt by the arms. "Aunt Beru, I'm not doing anything
wrong. Why can't you trust me?"

Beru shook her arms loose. "You expect me to trust and believe in
you after the things I have seen here tonight?" She shook her
head. "I'm so disappointed in you."

Luke stepped back, her words stinging more than he thought
possible.

Leia had had enough. She also took Beru by the arm, helping her
move aside. "You can be disappointed all you like, Beru, but I'm
very proud of him. Now if you'll excuse us, we're all going to
bed."

Leia pushed Luke through the door, then took Mara's arm and did the
same, ignoring the indignation of the woman as she did. Leia looked
at her husband. "Coming, Han?"

The former smuggler glanced around at the man on the floor and the
still cluttered table. "No dessert?" He asked.

Leia couldn't resist smirking. "Come on, smuggler. Let's tuck our
children in and go to sleep."

Han chuckled, knowing the children on Coruscant was not the ones she
meant but the two she had just pushed out the door were.

Han carefully moved around Owen, the man's still on his knees and
doubled over, then joined his wife out in the hallway, not sure
where any of them were sleeping tonight. Han watched the other
couple pace in front of the cabin they had shared the night before.
Glancing at Leia, he sighed.

"How about you bunk with Jade tonight and Luke with me?"

Leia knew it wasn't what her husband wanted but truth be known, it
was for the best.

"Sounds perfect, Han. We might as well tell them."

She started to walk away but Han grabbed her arm, pulling her close
and kissing her deeply. The couple drank in each other, neither
wanting to part. Finally Han released her, "Now we can tell them."

Leia laughed at her roguish husband, then turned to the other
couple, expecting many arguments to follow.

..........to be continued by UNA!.............................

Author's Note: This is definitely NC17 ... no pg13 no R rated, but pure
good ol' smut between two consenting adults.
It turned out to be somewhat of a challenge to describe the situation as
Angela, Sherry and I do not recall having that described in a fic before <G>

And .. this is one is for Shalla ;-)

Part 14
(by Una)

After the easy banter they had exchanged in the galley, both Jedi felt
uncomfortable as they paced the small corridor. Mara turned sharply and
leant against the door to her cockpit, crossing her arms protectively over
her chest.

She felt tired to the bone and she could only imagine how Skywalker felt.
Watching him from beneath guarded eyelids, she saw the tell-tale signs of
fatigue showing openly on the Jedi Master's face. But she could see
something else ... Pain, raw and open and coming from deep within his being
that it was almost palpable.

She tore her gaze away from Luke when she sensed Leia and Han approaching
and from the amused looks on their faces, Mara had a notion of what was
coming next.

"Well, Kids," Han started and scratched his ear embarrassed. "Leia and I
think it best that we split up. Luke and I bunk in Jade's cabin and Mara
and Leia in ours ..."

"Having delusions of grandeur again, Solo?" Mara cut in and pushed herself
off the cockpit door. "This is my ship, <i>I</i> decide where I sleep."

"Mara, please," Leia started but she closed her mouth when Mara stepped closer.

"I don't care what those Bantha brained idiots over there think of me, but
I thought you two were more intelligent than that," Jade snapped, her anger
uncoiling like a vicious snare. "I'm old enough to make my own decisions,
decide where I sleep and with whom and it isn't anyone's business."

"Mara," Luke stepped over and touched her arm, but Mara shrugged his hand off.
"This is only for a few days and then we will be out of your hair again. In
five days flat you'll have the Fire all to yourself again, please, do this
for my sake..."

Mara eyed the Jedi Master, she saw the pleading look and the genuine belief
that this would end soon and that they could pick up their lives and
forget about the mess they had found themselves in.

Jade sighed and nodded. "Okay, you bunk with Han in my cabin," Mara
acknowledged and she could only barely suppress the smirk when the others
exhaled softly. "But as the Captain of this ship, I will stay in the
cockpit. I need to make some holo calls anyway ... " With that, she turned
and left three very bewildered but nevertheless relieved persons behind as
she quickly dashed into her cabin and emerged only minutes later with two
thick Bantha blankets.

Han and Leia exchanged a glance. "Easier than I thought," Han whispered to
his wife and Leia had to smile at that.

"Too easy if you ask me," she replied. Giving her husband a soft kiss she
bid him and her brother good night. Leia was tempted to wait by the door to
her cabin but when she saw that Mara vanished behind the cockpit door
without as much as saying good night, she closed the door with a sigh.

Han motioned for Luke to enter Jade's cabin and Luke did so reluctantly.
The pillow and sheets he had used the night before still lay to one side of
the small space in front of the bed that was tucked into one corner.

The Corellian took in every little detail and he knew the sheets had not
been discarded there for his benefit. It seemed as if Luke and Mara had
slept separately and for a moment he didn't know if he should congratulate
Luke or clobber him around the ears.

"Shall we draw sticks as to who gets the bed?" Han asked with a smirk, and
Luke shook his head.

"I'll sleep on the floor, it's not too different from the pallet I have on
Yavin anyway," the younger man said and bent to retrieve the bed sheets.

"Okay, Kid, I appreciate it ... my back would give me hell if I had lost to
you," Han said with a smirk and sat down on the bunk. Meticulously he
opened the fasteners of his boots and removed them while he kept a watchful
eye on the young man.

Luke walked over to the small refresher and with a raised eyebrow Solo
noticed that some of the toiletries looked suspiciously like that of a
male, obviously Luke's.

"Mind if I use the fresher first?" Luke asked and turned only to meet Han's
inquisitive stare.

"No, Kid, not at all, go ahead," the Corellian said and continued removing
his clothing.

Luke squeezed his eyes shut after he had slid shut the door behind him. For
a moment his calm left him and the day and its events caught up with him.
Trembling, he slid down to the floor and gave in to the pain and the
frustration that had increased the whole day.

Cradling his head in his arms, mimicking the way ten year old Luke had
comforted himself all those many years ago, he tried to gauge the sobs that
threatened to come to the surface.

<i>It happened in the past,</i> he tried to convince himself. <i>I have
changed - I know why he tries to bully me .. he needs the feeling of power.</i>

But deep down he knew that when it came to his Uncle he felt as helpless as
twenty years ago and standing up seemed the more difficult with his friends
and family around.

Rocking himself softly, Luke tried to keep his barriers intact. He was so
intent on trying to keep his emotions away from Leia, that he almost missed
the soft brush of a familiar presence.

<i>*Luke, it is all right,*</i> Mara's voice was soft inside his mind,
unlike any other time that he had heard speaking out loud and Luke felt as
if the owner of the voice was slowly caressing his face. <i>*You couldn't
do anything back then. But now you can .. he has no power over you.*</i>

<i>*I know, Mara, but it is so hard,*</i> the Jedi Master sent her back,
revelling in the Force touch, drawing strength from it.

Feeling a fleeting touch on his cheek, Luke closed his eyes and opened
himself more to their shared Force bond. Tendril upon tendril intertwined
and colours, brilliant and shining appeared before his mind's eyes. The
Force vibrated all around him, churning and turning but always tethering
the bond, making it stronger.

<i>*Luke?*</i> Mara's voice was now even stronger and Luke had to smile
when her Force presence appeared. <i>*What is happening?*</i>

<i>*I don't know, but I like it,*</i> Luke couldn't resist and for a moment
he felt Mara's snort.

<i>*Trust you to see a silver lining on every horizon, as Sithforsaken as
it might be,*</i> Mara sent him and despite all that was going on he had to
laugh softly at that.

<i>*I know, I know, I'm far too naive for my own good,*</i> he sent her,
knowing that this was one of their old arguments.

<i>*Perhaps, but I have found out that a little naivety is a good thing ...
from time to time,*</i> she smirked when she felt his surprise. <i>*Not
only Jedi Master's can see reason, I'm known for that trait too.*</i>

<i>*And I would never think otherwise, Mara,*</i> Luke sent back and they
both shared a chuckle, the tendrils of their Force bond intertwining even
more, strengthening the connection to the extent that they could almost
imagine sitting side by side.

<i>*Speaking of Jedi Masters, you really have no clue what is
happening?*</i> Mara inquired after a while and Luke gave a mental shrug.

<i>*It could be all the stress that is opening us up more towards one
another and the Force ... I don't know*,</i> he sighed out loud, rubbing
his hands over his so recently abused jaw and for a fleeting moment he felt
another set of hands on his skin.

<i>*Be careful there, Skywalker,*</i> Mara sent him and he could feel her
concern, sense her frown when her imagined fingers traced his jaw line.

<i>*I wish I could make the pain go away,*</i> Mara said all of a sudden
and through the Force he could feel her leaning forward and fleetingly,
Luke felt her Force sense deepening with his. He knew she didn't mean the
more recent pain of his aunt and uncle entering his life again.

Luke concentrated on her Force presence and reaching out he imagined gently
touching her face.

<i>* I'm sorry that Palaptine hurt you, Mara ...I wish I had known you back
then, together we could have made the pain go away...*</i>

<i>*It's okay, Skywalker, don't dwell on things that lie beyond your
reach. You have your own demons to fight, but you are not alone.*</i>

Luke smiled when he felt some of the sadness leaving him.

They just remained still - the Force easily flowing between them, tinging
them in warmth, brilliant colours and a deep sense of well being and calm,
enwrapping them with a throbbing sheet, keeping them safe.

-------------------

A few minutes later, Luke felt more alive and refreshed than he had since
flying out to Tatooine and when he joined Han again, he felt the more
healthy tiredness than the strained fatigue he had felt before.

Han threw him a scrutinizing look but then shrugged and vanished into the
fresher. When he came back, Luke had already muted the light and from the
regular breathing the Corellian knew he was already on his way to Jedi's
dream land.

With a grin, Han sat down on the bed, mussing his head while he listened to
the steady breathing of his brother in law.

"Kid?" Han asked tentatively, holding his breath while he listened to any
indication if Luke had heard him or not. After a few more minutes the
ex-smuggler was satisfied that the Jedi Master was fast asleep and Han
stood up.

On tiptoes he stepped over the huddled figure and slipped out of the small
cabin and to the next room down the corridor.

When Leia heard the door, she had to grin and turned to meet her husband's
intent gaze.

"What are you doing here, nerf?" she asked and made room for him on the
small bunk.

"Hmmm you know your worshipfulness, I guess I cannot sleep without my
specially stuffed Ewok princess."

---------------------------

It was several hours later when Luke woke up with a start, his body covered
in a fine sheen of sweat. For a moment he squeezed his eyes shut and tried
to calm the erratic beating of his heart. He groaned when another wave of
passion washed over him and he cringed when he felt exactly what kind of
effect it had on certain parts of his body.

"Sithspit," Luke groaned and panted open mouthed. The fleeting images he
picked up from the Force were not that strong but effective and when he
felt another surge of unadulterated lust trying to threaten his barriers
he swore beneath his breath.

Pulling himself up to his feet, he moved uncomfortably. Forcing up his
barriers he managed to shut out the images. Bracing himself against the
wall, he recited the Jedi code until his rampant body was under some sort
of control, albeit just barely.

"One of these days, Leia, you will learn how to shield yourself properly,"
Skywalker muttered and stepped into the fresher. After he had stuck his
head under cold water, he had regained his control somewhat but parts of
his body were still raging.

Rubbing his hair dry with a towel, he decided he would need some fresh air.
Padding softly on bare feet out of the cabin he was about to open the ramp
when the door to the cockpit opened with an audible hiss.

The expanse of the corridor seemed to shrink when Luke's gaze fell on Mara
and their eyes locked immediately. Luke blushed furiously when he took in
her attire, a soft white button up tunic that revealed more than it hid.

Skywalker's idea of getting fresh air was forgotten. Later he didn't know
how he had crossed the corridor but he did. There he was standing, only a
hand width away from her and they still hadn't said a word.

Blue eyes bored into the depth of green orbs and time seemed to stand
still. Luke felt as if he had just finished a cross country race in the
forests of Yavin and looking at Mara, he could see she was breathing
heavily as well. Leia's projecting having affected them both.

They both knew that this was their turning point - either - or ... and
afterwards no turning back.

"Skywalker," Mara's voice was hoarse and raw, as if she had forgotten how
to speak.

"Ssshhhh," His finger came to rest on her mouth, touching trembling soft
lips, warm to his touch.

The moment Skywalker touched her he knew there was no turning back for him,
his nerve endings went into hyper drive and he couldn't resist the pull
that woman had on him.

Backing her slowly into the cockpit, his hand found the control panel and
the door hissed shut behind them.

The silence that ensued was almost overwhelming and Luke was able to hear
not only the crazed pounding of his own heart but that of Mara's as well.

Skywalker tried to calm himself, squeezing his eyes shut. When he had found
a thin thread of his Jedi calm, he opened his eyes again.

"Thank you for earlier, Mara," he said hoarsely, having the same
difficulties as Jade to get his speaking abilities under control again.

"That's what friends are for, Skywalker ..." Mara replied softly.

"But we are more than friends, Mara," the Jedi Master stated. "Aren't we?"

Mara was mesmerised by his brilliant blue eyes and a shudder ran down her
spine.

"Yes," she whispered with a catch in her throat. It was one thing to think
of Skywalker in more ways than just the needy friend and annoying Jedi
Master, but admitting that there was something between herself and said
Jedi Master, it made her whole being tingle and send her mind spinning.

She watched as Luke raised one hand and gently brushed some errant curls
away from her cheek with the back of his hand and likewise she couldn't
resist touching him.

At first her hands only moved hesitatingly over the warm expanse of his
bare chest but after a while she grew more confident, revelling in the warm
skin beneath her fingertips.

She could feel his muscles tensing beneath his skin as she caressed his
chest, slowly making her way down to his stomach. When she came to a scar
across his left ribcage she bent her head and put a soothing kiss onto the
injury.

"This could have killed you," she said huskily, brushing her hand over the
scar and Luke nodded, not trusting his own voice.

She smiled when she heard Luke's sharp intake of breath when she stepped
closer, her shirt falling open where she had not buttoned it up and skin
meeting skin.

"Oh Mara," Luke breathed before his mouth sought her lips in an all
encompassing kiss. Tongues fought a relentless battle, seeking dominance in
their mouths, while their hands caressed and stroked, aroused and soothed.

They kissed and clung to each other as if there was to be no tomorrow. In
the small confines of the cockpit passion soared high between the couple
and after another long teasing and hot kiss, they broke away.

Luke was panting open mouthed, resting his forehead against hers. Mara
shuddered and closed her eyes against the intent blue eyed stare.

"Mara, what are we going to do?" Luke asked breathless. "If we continue ...
if I ... we ... do all the things Uncle Owen accuses us to have done ..."

Mara shook her head softly, then put a shaking finger against his trembling
lips.

"This is between us, Luke ...," she said softly. "We decide what we let
happen or not ..." her voice trailed off when Luke started to caress her
waist, his hands slipping beneath the soft fabric of her Hapan silk shirt.

"I don't want to endanger you, Mara, but I need you ..." Luke said softly
while his nose rubbed against hers, his hands drawing circles on the soft
skin of her waist until they came to rest on her buttocks. Mara exhaled
sharply when she was pressed against the length of Skywalker's body and
became aware of just how exactly the Jedi Master needed her.

"Luke ..." Mara's breath caught in the back of her throat. "We can't ...not
until I'll reach Coruscant and a med center ..."

"I know," he whispered into her hair as his hands roamed further up,
pulling the silk off her shoulders. "I promise, Mara, you will be safe."

Slowly, they undressed each other, Mara slipping her hands into his boxer
to cup his firm buttocks. She knew they were dancing around a fine line
where the passion that kept them in thrall could easily lead to something
that Owen Lars had painted in not too bright colours. When Mara tried to
pry off the boxer, Luke drew her closer, trapping her hands between their
bodies.

"No," he breathed, his breath laboured. "I don't think I can keep my
promise if ..."

Jade understood and she nodded her head. Mesmerised, she gasped softly when
Luke took her into his arms and carried her over to her earlier discarded
bedroll.

She could not take her eyes off her long time friend and now soon to be
lover as he squatted beside her on the soft blanket, lovingly caressing her
legs before he hooked his thumbs into the waistband of her boxers and drew
them slowly down her shapely legs.

When his gaze fell upon her, she felt suddenly shy and turned her head
away. Mara could feel Luke stirring beside her and when she felt his hand
on the side of face she turned and met his deep blue stare.

"You are beautiful, Mara," Luke rasped, bending over her and kissing her
deeply. Mara could not reply, the surge of passion, love and respect for
this man overwhelmed her. All Mara could do was just grip his shoulders as
he sent her spinning on a wave of passion she had never before experienced.

Mara sighed softly when his hands moved over her exposed breasts,
worshipping them with his lips and tongue while his hands moved lower on
her body. Luke inhaled Mara's scent deeply as he encircled her navel with
his tongue. The young woman arched her back, watching him helplessly as
his head advanced slowly down to the soft curls between her thighs. Deeply
he kissed her there, tasting, drinking her.

"Luke!" she almost yelled at him when his tongue delved into her. She dug
her fingernails into his muscled shoulders and he grunted in pleasure when
the pain shot through the flesh.

Touching and tasting Mara, her skin, her hair, was a revelation to Luke. In
the far recesses of his mind he asked himself how he had ever managed to
survive without her in his arms. She was beautiful and when he lowered her
onto the floor, on the soft Bantha blankets, he knew that this woman was
his destiny. Even if they would never be like this, never be together like
man and woman ever again, he knew he would remember the way she felt,
smelled and tasted till the day he became one with the Force.

Luke kept a close tab on her through the Force and when he felt Mara's
reaction to his administrations he felt as if he was engulfed in a
brilliant hot flame of fire. He stopped when she let out a trail of
whimpering sounds, her body shivering in his arms as she reached her climax.

For more than a little while, only their laboured breathing could be heard.
Mara's heart was still erratically drumming against her ribcage and from
the way she felt Luke lying beside her his heart beat was also only now
slowing down. Mara opened her eyes and had to smile when she saw that smug
expression on his face.

With a shaking hand she turned and touched his face that lay so closely
beside her.

"Thank you," Mara whispered, trying to keep her emotions in check but not
quite succeeding. She felt elated, shaky and totally happy, something she
had never experienced before and she wanted to give something of this back
to the man who had simply by his touch brought her to heights of passion
she had not thought possible.

When Mara moved to kiss him, he let himself engulf in her hair that was
trailing down in fiery tresses along her face, caressing him. He could feel
her happiness brightly over their Force bond and he had to smile at that. A
surge of passion and happiness surged through him as he was reminded that
he was the cause for her happiness.

They mouths met, lingering, and Mara could still taste herself on his lips
as she deepened the kiss. When her hands started to roam over his body,
coming to rest on the waistband on his boxers, Luke groaned out.

He wanted this woman so much, this woman who was like the strongest drug in
the universe, who had the power to sent his world spinning head over heels
and leave him burned in her wake.

When Mara slowly moved down over his body, he stiffened momentarily, and
when Jade removed his boxers, he groaned out loud.

"Mara, no," he gritted through clenched teeth, as his erection sprang free
from its confines. Squeezing his eyes shut he tried to will his arousal
down ...he doubted he could keep his promise if Mara would ....

"Mar--aaaa," Skywalker's eyes snapped open and his head jerked up when he
felt soft lips encircling him.

The beautiful trader looked up, green eyes meeting blue ones and when she
saw his pleading look, she released him form her mouth but not from her
fingers.

"Enjoy it, Luke," Mara said with a smile and stretched to give him a
lingering kiss on his lips.

"Mara .. you ... you don't need to do that ... I ... I mean I didn't ... I
don't need you to reciprocate," he mumbled, a flush spreading quickly from
his neck into his cheeks. Soft breasts swayed in front of his eyes, when
Mara settled beside him, her hands still stroking and gently caressing his
erection.

"And why shouldn't I? I want to - let me make you feel as good as you did
me ..." Mara's voice trailed away when she saw Luke blanching.

"Callista never ... I mean I never ..." he clamped his mouth shut.
<i>Way to go Skywalker, mentioning your past girl friend to the woman who
is offering to give you something you've always wondered about,</i> he
chided himself silently.

Mara frowned. She knew she should be miffed at him for mentioning that body
snatcher but somehow she was also relieved that the woman had never shared
at least this particular level of intimacy with Skywalker.

"Callista never ?" She inquired and saw that Luke's facial colour increased.

"I mean .. I never .. no woman ...," he took a deep breath. "I never had a
woman pleasure me in this way," he said in a rush.

Mara could feel his embarrassment over their Force bond and she bent over
and kissed his nose softly, then his closed eyes and finally his mouth.

"Then, Farmboy, " she whispered in a raspy voice, "You should enjoy the show."

Slowly, she circled her intended target and encircled Luke's erection.
Her tongue teased the small opening, licking away the first rush of semen.
Then she enclosed her lips onto his shaft, relaxing her jaw as she took
almost all of his length into her mouth.

"Ah, Mara ... that feels ... good ...," he hissed as she sucked him, laving
his cock with her tongue, fondling his balls with her hand.

He wanted to feel her, wanted to be engulfed by her hot softness. What she
was doing was pure bliss to him and only with the outmost control he could
keep himself from just flopping her over and make love to her properly.

He tried to ignore the boiling feeling that shot like fire p his spine but
when he felt Mara caressing him physically as well as through the Force it
was his undoing.

<i>*Come for me, Luke,*</i> Mara sent him and with this the Jedi Master
came so violently that he almost passed out.

Mara Jade smiled as she watched her friend gasping and moaning in the
throes of passion. He was a handsome man, but seeing Luke Skywalker gasping
for breath so shortly after his release, her name almost like a mantra on
his lips, made her realize just how handsome he was.

Luke held out a trembling hand toward her and she took it gladly, moving
into his arms as they lay back down on her make shift bed. Snuggling into
his arms, she closed her eyes, suddenly feeling very sleepy. She almost
missed Luke brushing some hair out of her face and putting a sweet, deep
kiss on her mouth.

<i>*Thank you, Mara,*</i> he sent her and Mara had to smile. Caressing his
face lovingly, she put a kiss on the cleft on his chin and laid her head on
his shoulder.

Soon there after they were both fast asleep.
------------------------------------
TBC
Angela is next

oke, here's the next part. Angela was suppose to be next when we
were writing this...but I was so excited about the scene that she,
being the sweet elf she is, let me write this :))))

Part 15
(Sherry)

Han stumbled out of Leia's cabin still adjusting his clothing. He
mumbled to himself, upset that he had fallen asleep but Leia, ah
sweet Leia had always drove him to
the point of exhaustion.

Han couldn't stop the silly grin on his face from the memory of the
last few hours. However, that smile vanished when he entered his
own cabin...and saw that Luke was not there.

"Oh, Luke," he grumbled, dashing into the refresher to make sure the
missing Jedi wasn't there. Not seeing the man, Han made his way
back to the hallway, glancing up and down till his eyes settled on
the sealed cockpit door. "He wouldn't," Han whispered.

Han stood staring at the door, trying to decide what to do. He
could get Leia and he knew she could find her brother, but then
again, if he was in the cockpit with Mara, would he really want Leia
there when he found them? Han shook his head, answering his own
internal reasoning. No way, he decided.

Moving as quietly as he could down the hall, passing by the last
cabin before the cockpit, the one he himself has just snuck out of,
Han made his way to the cockpit door. He couldn't help but grin and
press his ear against the cold metal, hoping for a clue that Luke
was inside. Stop grinning, you ole fool, he chastised himself, Luke
and Mara together wouldn't be the smartest thing with Owen on this
ship.

Han completely froze as he heard a thud from down the hallway.
Slowly tilting his head, he realized the sound came from the Lars'
cabin. Glancing at the hanging chrono near that very cabin, Han
groaned. He had been with Leia much longer than he thought. It was
early morning and there was no doubt the Lars' were awake.

Knowing Luke was going to be in big trouble if Owen caught him in
the same room with Mara, Han quickly opened the cockpit door and
stepped inside. Han heard the door swish shut behind him but he
could do nothing more than stand still at the site before him.

His sharp intake of breath was the only audible sound in the room as
he stood gaping, his gaze fixated on the couple on the floor a mere
meter away. He couldn't help but noticing the slender leg thrown
over Luke's. His gaze trailed from the ankle then upwards, thanking
the maker that the blanket was wrapped around all the parts of Mara
that marriage, and the will to live, prevented him from seeing.

His eyes were wide and mouth still hanging open, having never seen
Luke or Mara and especially them together in such an intimate
embrace...or so few clothes on. The only clothing he could see was a
shirt Mara had on but was not buttoned. Han forced his gaze away
after noticing that the shirt revealed a bit more at the top than he
needed to see.

The hardened man, who thought he would never have encountered a
situation that would leave him feeling so awkward, swallowed hard
and approached.

Han felt himself blush a bit more, noticing how the blanket barely
covered his brother in law, ending at his hipbone. "Please don't
move, kid," Han pleaded softly, never wanting to see Luke in such a
way.

Mara shifted and Han's hand slapped over his eyes, not moving until
the shifting stopped. Slowly two of his fingers parted and he
peeked out between them, gasping as he did.

The bodies had indeed shifted and Mara's hand now laid across Luke's
midsection, keeping the blanket there but making Luke moan slightly
at the contact. Han opened his mouth to call out to Luke but try as
he might, he couldn't make words come out. Nor could he move when
Luke's arm tightened around Mara's head, pulling her closer so his
mouth nuzzled against her forehead.

His hand almost shaking from the shock, and from having to disturb
and embarrass Mara Jade, Han reached out and laid his hand on Luke's
bare shoulder. "Luke, wake up," he pleaded softly.

Han jerked away as his action only caused Luke to mumble a name, and
it wasn't in answer to him trying to ruse the Jedi. Han listened as
Mara's name tumbled off his brother in law's lips and he shook his
head sadly. Luke had gotten himself into a fine mess this time.

Kneeling beside the couple, Han shook Luke a bit more
forcefully. "Luke, you need to wake up," he watched for a
response, "now!"

Luke's eyes snapped open, unfocusing at first. He started to say
something but Han held his finger up. "I don't want to hear it,
kid. It's time that you get up, get dressed and get back where you
are suppose to be."

Han watched Luke carefully, making sure the younger man understood
before he pushed himself back to his feet. Luke nodded but didn't
say a word, breaking eye contact with the Corellian.

Han stood and glanced around the room, picking up Luke's boxer
shorts and sighing almost angrily when he couldn't find anything
else. "Is this all you wore in here?" He tossed the shorts toward
Luke.

Luke started to answer but Han's raised voice caused Mara to stir,
stretching a bit and opening her eyes. Luke carefully kept the
blanket tucked around her; even pulling her shirt closed more to
protect her from Han's gaze. Luke noticed her eyes widen and could
feel her body tense as she started to shy away. He held her
tight. "Please don't move," he almost begged, knowing that he would
be spared no embarrassment if she shifted and the blanket went with
her.

Mara stammered but did as he asked, realizing how tightly his hand
clutched the blanket over his hip...where her hand laid. She jerked
her hand back and glared at Han. "What are you doing here?"

Han was incredulous. "Me? I think I should be asking the questions
here." Han took a deep breath, calming himself down. Now was not
the time for this. He quickly grabbed another blanket, one
apparently the two lovers hadn't needed, and unfolded it, holding it
up.

"Get up, Luke, and get dressed." He held the blanket up so he
couldn't see the two, giving them privacy but Luke still
complained.

"Han, I can't just...." He began.

Han dipped the blanket to peer over the top. "Kid, she's obviously
seen everything you have so this modesty of yours is misplaced! Now
get moving before anyone comes in." He held the blanket back up and
Luke scrambled to his feet, pulling his shorts on and helping Mara
stand, who turned her back to button her shirt.

Han let the blanket go, glaring at the two of them. Normally this
wouldn't have been so bad, even good for Luke and Mara but not now...
not while Luke's maniacal uncle was preaching left and right about
Luke being dishonorable.

With a struggle, Mara forced herself to look at Han, then quickly
wrapped the blanket around herself even though she had buttoned her
shirt up. The way he was looking at her made her feel as if she
still needed to cover up. "Look, Solo...this is..."

"None of my business," he finished for her and motioned toward the
door. "This is between the two of you...and Owen of course."

He watched Luke pale at the mention of his uncle's name. "Now lets
get you back where you should be before Leia gets up."

Han opened the cockpit door, making sure it was clear, then turned
back to Luke who was trying to figure out what to say to
Mara. "Mara...I'm sorry."

Mara nodded. "Later, Skywalker. Just go," She pushed him toward
the door, not harshly but with a firmness that encouraged him.

Han stepped into the hallway, and made sure Luke did the same before
ushering him into the cabin they were suppose to have shared last
night. With a quick look at Leia's door and the Lars' door, Han
sighed deeply, deeply happy that no one had noticed.

.................to be continued by Angela!!....................................................

Sorry for taking so long with this one. I was off in my own little
world and forgot it was my turn. :) Enjoy

Part 16
(Angela)

"Sit!" Han commanded, pointing at the bed. Luke sat down quietly,
folding his arms across his bare chest, and stared at the
floor. "What did you think you were doing Luke?" Han demanded,
unable to control the rising irritation inside of him.

"It's not what you think Han," Luke told him quietly, still studying
the scuff marks on the floor.

"Not what I think?" Han repeated. <I>Who did he think he was trying
to fool?</I>, Han thought bitterly. "Luke, do you think I'm blind?
There is nothing else that could have been. Are you <I>trying</I> to
make things worse around here?"

"This wasn't about anyone but Mara and me, Han," Luke said looking up
and settling his gaze on his friend. The signs of true embarrassment
was still evident on his face, and Han could tell that Luke wanted to
be anywhere but where he was. "I did nothing to purposely try and
cause problems."

"And you thought this wouldn't?" Han shook his head, trying to make
sense of everything. "After all this, it turns out that old man Lars
was right?" Han said, and then clamped his mouth shut when he
realized he spoke that out loud.

Luke jumped to his feet, anger blazing in his eyes. "Nothing he has
done is right, Han. I thought you of all people would understand
that!" Han knew as soon as the words were out that he should not
have said it. The pain that it brought to those eyes was more then
Han could bare and he did the only thing he could do after a mistake
like that. He apologized.

"I'm sorry, Luke, I shouldn't have said that. But what you and Mara
did..."

"You have no idea what Mara and I did," Luke snapped. Han stepped
back at Luke's tone. Not totally understanding why Luke was so angry
with him.

"But I saw you two..." Han started before he was cut off.

"I know what you saw, Han" Luke told him. "I was there myself,
remember? But we didn't..." His voice trailed off and he did not
continue. <I>Gods, this is embarrassing,<I> Luke thought and rubbed
his face forlornly.

Han sighed. The kid was just not seeing the point here. There had
to be a way to get him to see that he was not upset about <I>what</I>
had happened, just the careless manner it had been carried out.

"Luke," he started again, wishing that Leia were here to handle
this. She would know what to say to get the idea across, but she
would probably succeed in alienating Luke more then he already
was. "What if he had been the one to walk in and not me? What do
you think would have happened then?"

He did not know what to expect from Luke in response to his question,
but he was not prepared for what did happen. Luke sat hard on the
bed, all the color draining out of his face. He did not speak while
he buried his head in his hands.

"I don't even want to think about that, Han," Luke whispered. The
young man shuddered and Han was genuinely concerned.

"Luke," Han said, his voice a lot calmer now. He was going about
this all wrong, upsetting Luke more was no way to get him to
listen. "I'm just saying you need to be more careful, that's all.
You two were prepared for this, right?"

"We did not plan for this, Han," Luke admitted. "It just happened."
He sounded defeated, and Han could not stand what he was doing to his
friend, but if they had gotten themselves in trouble he wanted to
know about it so he could help them

"Well, she was at least on meds right?" Han asked, hoping for a
positive answer. Hoping that Luke was not be that careless.

"Meds?" Luke asked, his eyes growing wide. He shook his head,
causing Han's stomach to drop into his feet. "No, not that I know
of."

"What are you going to do if Mara is pregnant now?" Han asked, no
longer able to hold back his anger.

"She's not pregnant!" Whatever had upset Luke earlier was gone now,
replaced by the shocked anger that was now directed at him. Luke's
attitude was quickly spoiling Han's mood and he was determined to get
Luke to see reason.

"What, is that Jedi instinct?" He asked sarcastically, wondering how
Luke could be so naive during a time like this.

"No, it's a fact," Luke insisted. "Han, there is no way that Mara
could have gotten pregnant. We didn't... do ... that."

<I>Here we go again,</I> Han thought, feeling more and more like he
were talking to his kids instead of an adult.

"We have been through this already, Luke. I know what I saw. You
cannot explain that away."

"I know what you saw as well." Luke's cheeks blushed but he pushed
on, a new determination in his eyes. "I will not sit here and deny
that something happened, but not what you're thinking. I would not
risk Mara that way."

Han tried to run through the scenarios that Luke could have possibly
been trying to describe. It was clear that he was not going to give
him any details, which left Han on his own to try and figure it out.

"Luke, no matter what there is always a chance," Han said. Luke
shook his head violently, rejecting his reasoning. Standing up he
paced the small confines of the room, kicking his blankets out of the
way as he passed.

"She's not pregnant, Han."

"How can you be so certain of that, Luke? Without repress meds there
is no guarantee. All those techniques that those pilots told you
about." Han paused at the sharp look he received from Luke. "Oh
don't try to tell me that Rogues don't talk, because they are pilots
through and through. I'm sure most of them were more then willing to
try and teach you a few secrets back in the old days during the
Rebellion. But all that stuff they were shoveling isn't reliable."

Luke sighed, his hands dropping to his sides. "Han, you are not
getting it."

"No, Luke you're the one that's not getting it."

"I get what you are saying," Luke insisted. "But you don't
understand what I am trying to tell you."

"Then enlighten me," Han said, giving up his argument willing to hear
what Luke thought on the subject. Spreading his arms wide, he
challenged the younger man. "Go on, enlighten me with your superior
Jedi reasoning."

Luke crossed the room once again before stopping in front of his
friend.

"Not that I think this is any of your business, Han, but I cannot
stand the thought of someone else thinking what I did was wrong.
Mara is not pregnant. I know this for a fact because it is not
possible, because we did not go that far. Not because we did not
want to, but because we knew we couldn't. Like I said, I would not
hurt Mara that way."

"You didn't go that far?" Han asked, wondering what he meant.

"Do I have to spell it out for you?" Luke asked, the heat returning
to his voice.

"Maybe you do, Luke," Han said, pushed to his limits
already. "Because I'm not understanding you here." If Luke did not
start making sense soon he did not want to be held responsible for
what he did to him. Luke's jaw was working, and Han knew that the
kid was as frustrated as he was, but he wanted to know what was going
on.

"We did not have sex ..." Luke said his voice dropping again. "It
never made it that far."

"That far," Han repeated, this time understanding what Luke was
saying. He watched the kid with new eyes. <I> Something</I> had
happened in that cockpit, but not that far. Seeing the embarrassing
position he had caught them in however, he knew that they very easily
could have. Han was not sure he could have shown the same amount of
will power that Luke was claming to have had. A smile sprang to his
face, which caused Luke to frown and bow his head.

"Luke I don't know if I should hug or hit you."

---

Leia finished pinning up her hair and stepped into the hall. She
reached out and could feel that only the Lars' were out of their
cabin so she headed towards the one her husband and brother were
sharing. She stopped when she reached the door. Stilled by the
heated tones coming from inside. No matter how hard she listened she
could not make out the words that were thrown back and forth.
Curiosity won out and she hit the announcer, jumping slightly at the
sharp duel acknowledgement she got in return.

She quickly opened the door and took in the scene. They were both
standing face to face their cheeks flushed. Luke was frowning, but
her husband was smiling, a direct contrast to his stance and the
heated sounds that had just been flowing from the room. The tension
in the room was almost pliable and Leia could not figure out what
could have cause the unease between the best friends.

"Something's happened." She stated. Luke turned towards her then
sighed, and with an angry huff grabbed his clothes and disappeared
into the refresher.

"What happened?" Leia asked her husband, her tone much lower to keep
her brother from hearing her. "Was this because you left and came
back in my room last night?"

"Close, but you got it backwards, princess." It took her a few
heartbeats before she figured out what he meant.

"Luke did not sleep in here last night?" she asked. She smiled when
Han shook his head no.

"I found them both asleep in the cockpit. Don't ask," Han said
holding out his hand to stop her next question. "Let's just say that
it's not as bad are you are thinking, but worse then you are hoping."

"Oh Force help us if Owen finds out," Leia said. She wanted to know
more, but she knew Han would understand. Now, with Luke due to
arrive back in the room at any moment was not the time to discuss
it.

----

"Well at least he choose the right side," Beru said, as she settled
her at the table after offering her husband a cup of the caf.

"What do you mean?" Owen asked, turning to face his mate.

"The empire is gone Owen," She said taking a careful sip. "And he was
on the winning side."

"Looks like the only thing right he managed to do," Owen said staring
into his cup.

"Owen, maybe you are not being fair," Beru said, knowing she was
taking a chance standing up for Luke like that. "We know so little
about Luke now. Maybe we should give him a chance."

"I saw all I needed to see yesterday." Beru took another drink from
her cup. She knew as well as anyone that the man beside her was
stubborn, but she had never seen him do anything without having the
best intentions at heart. And what they had seen shook her as much
as it did Owen, she just did not react to it.

"He was left on his own too early," Owen told her. "He wasn't
ready. But that's no matter. I have taken care of it and I will
once again pull him out of trouble." He sighed irritably. "I thought
I was over this part of our lives."

Dread filled Beru's insides. "What have you done Owen?" <I> Please
don't let it be something I can't fix,</I> she thought.

"I told you I am taking care of the problem. Jebb will be here
soon. That will help straighten this out."

Beru's hand shot to her mouth, before she nodded acceptingly. "That
will defiantly take care of it." She said, wishing they could just be
over it and on their way already.

----

Luke stepped put the cabin without a word to his sister and brother
in law. He was not in the mood for this. He wanted to talk to Mara
before having to deal with the rest of them. His parting words to
her were not the way he had wanted the night to end. He walked
determinedly past the mess area, purposely ignoring his family that
still sat at the table, and headed towards the head of the ship.
Before he arrived he heard a loud thumping sound and recognized it at
someone knocking on the entrance to the ship. Wondering who it could
be and what business they had there at this early hour, Luke went to
see who it was.

He opened the ramp and Fixer jumped on board before it had completely
lowered. Luke raised the ramp again, not wanting to invite guests to
the ship so early. He turned and found the man standing behind him
fidgeting.

"What's wrong with you?" Luke asked, wondering if there might be
something wrong.

"I just ran over here. I heard some people talking this morning
about coming to see you. Why didn't you say something to us? We
would have been happy to help you with this, Luke." Luke scratched
his ear, and frowned.

"Help us with What Fixer? What are you talking about?"

About that time Luke heard another knock and rolled his eyes,
wondering if someone had planted a welcome sign on the front of the
ship. Punching the button to lower the ramp her turned to see his
uncle coming down the hall. Determined not to let him ruin his mood
so early in the morning, he turned back to greet the new visitor. He
felt himself go numb when he caught sight of the visitor, then turn
back to the grinning face of his uncle.

<I>He wouldn't... </I>Luke thought, but the satisfied grin on Owen's
face confirmed Luke's fears. He had been expecting this man.

He stretched out through the Force, reaching for Mara as well as his
sister. <I> I think you two should get out here,</I> he sent before
stepping away from the ramp and letting the man and his friends enter
the ship.

The door to the cockpit opened about the same time as the cabin door
and Han, Leia and Mara stepped into the already crowded hallway.
Leia pushed herself to the front of the group and greeted the
visitors.

"I am Chief of State of the New Republic," Leia stated offering her
hand. "And you are?"

"Good morning, Ma'am. My name is Jebb Ten'Dustcrawler, and this is
my staff. Thank you for including us in this wonderful occasion. So
which ones are the bride and groom?"

Leia thought for sure that from the looks of him,if Luke had not had
to stop Mara from rushing forward, he would have passed out at those
words.

~~~~

Oh and as for rating ... I don't edit .. so this is R .. a bit of strong
language a bit of necking and huffing .. you know the spiel :)

Part 17
(by Una)

"What?" three voices called out in unison, but Luke was clearly heard as he
breathed out an unbelieving "Oh No!"

Three heads snapped into his direction and Mara who stood closest, jabbed a
stiff finger into his chest.

"What do you mean 'Oh No'? Do you know what this insanity is all about?"
she demanded angrily.

"If he had not forgotten all I've told him then he should know," Owen
barged in smugly and Mara's cold stare hit him like a blaster bolt.

"You!" Mara spat out and took a step forward only to be held back by Luke.

"Did you or did you not have sexual relations with my nephew?" Owen's voice
hollered through the small confines of the corridor.

Leia heard Han's loud intake of breath and she shot him a look which her
husband conveniently ignored as he focused his gaze on Luke and Mara.

"No!"

"Yes!"

Mara whirled around and anyone present could see she was about to strangle
the Jedi Master.

"Mara, I cannot lie, Jedi do not lie," Luke tried to explain, swallowing
audibly.

"We did NOT have sex with each other," Mara retorted angrily, stiffening
when she heard Han's suppressed snicker. "Skywalker, we NEVER had sex and
if you keep this up I'll make sure that a certain Jedi Master will never
have sex with any other woman ever again."

Leia looked at her husband when he chuckled beside her and jabbed him in
the ribs.

"Spoken like a true wife," Han said and sobered immediately when Mara's
gaze fell upon him.

"Sorry, Jade, forget that I said that," Han managed to choke out and hugged
his wife closer.

"So did you have sex with each other?" Leia asked, this situation growing
more and more confusing and she just wished that she would never have to
deal with this again with her own children.

"NO!" two voices were heard and now Leia was doubly intrigued.

"But you just ...." Leia stopped when Han hugged her closer and nuzzled his
nose in the crook of her neck.

"Hold your fire, Princess, let them explain .. it is much more entertaining
this way, trust me," he whispered.

"Now you go against all we've taught you by lying?" Beru Lars asked and
suppressed a sob while she buried her head in her husband's chest. "Oh
Stars, Owen, you were right. I thought he had not changed this much ...."

"Aunt Beru ..." Luke started but Owen's gaze held him back.

"You Jedi are all the same, liars and deceivers!" Owen spat out and Luke
took several steps backwards. "And if you do not straighten out this mess,
I will."

"Now wait a minute, <i>Uncle Owen</i>," Mara snapped. "If you and your wife
think I will marry Skywalker here, then you might as well jump into the
next Sarlacc pit. I won't abide to your whimsical and anachronistic morals
just because from your point of view you think Skywalker did anything
wrong. He is old enough to make his own decisions and so am I. So go and
take your Bantha brained morals with you and be gone!"

"Mara, it would solve a lot of stuff," Luke's voice was heard and he
swallowed when Mara's attention snapped towards him again.

"It would solve what?" she asked, her voice dangerously calm, always a bad
sign when dealing with Mara Jade. "Do you really consider abiding to this
Bantha brained idiot and his outdated morals?"

"Mara, I was raised on these beliefs ...." Luke cut in but Mara would have
none of it.

"Which you so conveniently forgot when Callista was still around," Mara
spat out and felt a surge of anger washing over her through their Force
bond before Luke worked his barriers up.

"Callista is long past and gone, Jade," Luke gritted out tersely. "But this
is not the issue here ... our wedding is..."

"I won't give my yea-say in this, Skywalker," Mara snapped. "You can go and
marry the first woman who will pass by the Fire, but leave me out of this!"

"I don't want to marry any other woman, Jade!" Luke snapped, this time his
anger and frustration getting the better of him. "This is about us and I
should have thought about this sooner. Marrying WOULD solve a lot of problems."

Mara just stared at the Jedi Master open mouthed. She could not believe
what she was hearing. <i>How would anything of this mess be solved by
marrying Skywalker?</i> she asked herself.

Leia and Han's thoughts were along the same line and Leia tried to probe
her twin brother through the Force but his barriers were shuttered up
against her.

"Of all the Emperor's black bones, this is the most stupid thing I have
ever heard, Skywalker!" Mara had regained some of her composure and shook
her head. "What would it solve? Getting your Uncle off your back? I have a
much better solution than that. Let me do the job and we will be
celebrating a funeral instead of a wedding."

"MARA!" Luke grabbed her by the shoulders and came close of shaking some
sense into her. He had enough. He had to make her see reason. "This is the
dark side speaking!"

Jade snorted and slapped his hands away. "You can't tell me anything to
change my mind, Skywalker, so cut the crap about the Dark Side. It has
crossed not only my mind more than once that without your uncle in your
life, we wouldn't be discussing this. Heck, I wouldn't even be standing
here if those two hadn't turned up all of a sudden!"

"But it happened, Mara, the Force wanted us all to meet here and perhaps it
is the Force at work!" Luke snapped back.

"Oh no you won't!" Mara retorted and gave Luke's chest a not too gentle
shove. "This is not about the Force, this is about some Wampa brained old
man with a megalomaniacal streak who loves to bully anyone in his life,
including his wife and you!"

Luke squeezed his eyes shut and tried to calm himself. He knew Mara was
right but he also wanted to show her that his reasoning for a marriage
wouldn't be too far off.

"Mara, please, just hear me out, okay?" he pleaded softly and for a moment
their eyes met. "Hear me out and then it is up to you to decide."

Mara shivered beneath the intent gaze of her friend. She could not fathom
what he had in mind, but the softly issued plea touched her. Of course, she
did not have any grand illusions that the Jedi Master had all of a sudden
fallen helplessly in love with her, she knew - no, more suspected - that he
was still in love with Callista and that the only reason he wanted to
follow through with the wedding was to get his uncle off his back, off all
of their backs.

"Excuse us for a moment," Luke said and that yanked Mara out of her
reverie. Focusing back on Skywalker, she frowned when he took her arm none
too gently, and pushed her towards the open door of the cargo hold.

"Skywalker, whatever you want to discuss, you can discuss it here," Mara
started but Luke turned around and held a finger up into her face in warning.

"I don't think you want to discuss some of the things that happened last
night in front of an audience," he choked out through gritted teeth.

"Last night has nothing ..."

"Last night has ALL to do with this, Mara, so just shut up for once and
hear me out!" With this he pushed her through the door and the hatch closed
behind them with a loud clang.
----------------
Leia was blinking in surprise. She was more confused then ever and when she
looked up into her husband's face, she had the feeling that he knew what
this was all about.

"Han?" she asked but Solo shook his head.

"I think Luke should explain .. if he ever gets out there alive, Princess,"
Han said and after he gave his bewildered wife a quick kiss, he turned
towards the wedding planer and his entourage.

The former Princess of Alderaan watched deeply in thought as her husband
spoke to the wedding planer. She replayed the conversation and for the
umpteenth time she wondered how Luke could have lied about the sexual
relations bit.

<i>If you don't have sex .. you don't have any sexual relations unless....
Oh-uh,</i> Leia thought. <i>Now what exactly did transpire between the two
last night?</i>.
--------------------

After Luke had shoved her into the cargo hold she had started to pace
almost the complete length of it before she whirled around to face the Jedi
Master who leant against the hatch with crossed arms over his chest.

"Okay, Skywalker, say what you want to say but I won't promise you I will
like it!" Mara challenged and eyed the calm Jedi mask that had replaced the
angry and exasperated Luke Skywalker from a few moments ago.

"Just humour me, Jade. You answer a couple of questions and then we'll come
to a decision ..." His voice sounded detached and cold.

"Questions?" Mara asked and took a step closer. She watched as Luke pushed
himself off the door and slowly advanced towards her. Fleetingly, she was
reminded of a predator intend for the kill and she suppressed a shudder.

"Just a few, Jade, no biggie," Skywalker replied.

"Okay," Mara nodded her head. "Ask your blasted questions so we can get
this over and done with."

Luke watched the woman standing in front of him and he had to admit that
the prospect of marrying her was not an easy feat to accept. Mara Jade was
beautiful, he had to give her that. She was clever, a worthy opponent and
equal to him in the Force, but she was also a fierce warrior and deadly. A
fact, Luke had first hand knowledge of. But he also knew that she was a
woman of great passions, also something he had first hand knowledge of and
he needed her, needed her as much in his life, as he needed the Force or
food to eat.

Taking a deep breath, Skywalker braced himself, keeping the deadly part
closely in mind.

"How many men try to come on to you .. in say .. about a month?"

"What?" Mara asked and shook her head. "Skywalker, if you want to know
whether or not I'm promiscuous then ask straight out!"

"Mara, just answer the question." Luke demanded calmly.

"I don't understand ...," Mara snapped her mouth shut when she felt a whole
rush of barely kept annoyance over their shared Force link. "Quite a few!"

"And how many of these men wouldn't try to come on to you if they knew you
were married? Especially to the Jedi Master?"

"Not many ... I think," Mara replied. Trying to figure out what Skywalker
was getting at.

"I see," Luke retorted. "And how many of those men would you consider
potential bed partners?"

"Skywalker!" Jade growled and took a step forward. Luke raised both his hands.

"Just answer the question, Jade."

"Not a lot, in fact not one, why?"

"I figured as much," Skywalker commented. "Now, tell me why you are so
opposed to marriage in general?"

"Skywalker ... don't play your silly games ..."

"Just answer the question, Jade, I just want to know," Luke demanded and
shot her a curious glance.

Mara exhaled and rubbed her temples impatiently. She started to pace in
front of him while she tried to come up with a feasible answer.

"I'm not wife material ... I don't wait up for hubby till he comes home to
fix him a Corellian whisky. I don't stay long enough in one place and I
have a business to run. I need to be independent and not bogged down by a
husband and children," she stopped and turned to face the Jedi Master. "Is
that enough for an answer?"

Luke nodded, "I think it will suffice."

Slowly he took a step closer and came to stand right in front of her,
their bodies almost touching.

"Just one more question, Jade," his voice was raspy and Mara shivered as
she tilted her head upward to look into his eyes.

"Did you mean it last night when you said you want to go onto repress meds
... to sleep with me?"

Luke could not believe he had asked just that but he wanted to know and he
also wanted to see just how serious Mara had taken what had transpired
between them the night before. Their future together was depending on that.

Mara stared at the Jedi Master openmouthed. <i>Of all the things he could
have asked me,</i> she thought. <i>I wouldn't have ever guessed he would
have the nerve to ask me THIS</i>.

With an audible click, Mara closed her mouth. She could feel the heat
spreading on her face and her old defiance came rushing back to her.

"Your little game is over, Skywalker," she pressed out and brushed past him
towards the door of the cargo hold.

Luke pushed against the hatch she was about to open and sent the door shut
with an angry boom that reverberated through the cargo hold.

Mara turned angrily to blast the Jedi Master into oblivion only to find
herself trapped between the hatch and his body.

"Skywalker," Mara growled and tried to push him away, but Luke didn't want
to have any of it, pressing closer, he placed both hands onto the cool
durasteel of the door on either side of her face.

"I asked you a simple question, Mara," he breathed, pinning her effectively
against the hatch. "A simple question, simple answer. Would you want to
sleep with me on a regular basis ... given the chance?"

Mara opened her mouth, to tell him to go jump into a Rancor pit, but her
body betrayed her mind. Heat pooled in heavy waves through her body,
washing over her before settling in the centre of her woman's core.

"Let me go," she demanded lamely, but she could not get her hands to shove
Skywalker away. All she wanted to do was to prove him right there and then
that she was more than willing to share her body with him on a regular basis.

"Mara, simply answer my question," Luke insisted. He in turn felt the
effects that the closeness of Mara Jade's body had on his own but he kept a
steely grip on his passion.

"I ...," Mara shook her head and tried to break the intense eye contact.
"You must be mad ..."

"Answer me," Skywalker urged her on. "Don't you see, Mara? It would solve a
lot of problems if you marry me. You wouldn't have to fend off men hitting
on you, you could still peruse your business and I don't want a wife who
fixes my drinks .. I can do that myself."

"You are crazy, Skywalker. I always knew that all that excessive Force use
of yours will somehow impair your judgement. I just didn't think I would be
partial of seeing it happening," Mara retorted, ignoring the throbbing that
radiated from the place between her legs to the outer extremities of her body.

"Mara .." Luke warned her.

"What? Do you expect me to follow your crazy reasoning?"

"Yes, Mara, I expect you to," he breathed, his face only inches away.
"Can't you see it? Marry me, Mara, and you can do as you please ... with
one exception ..."

"What? Free bonus sex with the Jedi Master?" Mara cut in and managed to
hold him off at arm's length.

"No," Luke breathed and grabbed her by the shoulders. "This!"

Mara gasped in shock when Luke almost lunged at her, pinning her against
the hatch and his mouth descended on hers with more force than was really
necessary. She parted her lips on her own accord before even Skywalker's
tongue demanded entrance. She moaned when he drove his tongue between her
lips, delving deeply into the warm hollow of her mouth.

Without thinking, she slipped her arms around his shoulders to draw him
closer and somewhere at the fringes of her passion filled perception she
felt Luke lifting her up and putting her legs around his waist while his
mouth kissed her sense- and breathless.

She sensed his determination through their bond and for a moment a shudder
ran through her. He radiated so much strength and will power that deep down
inside something cringed at the thought.

"Luke," she whispered between kisses when she felt his hands fumbling with
the fasteners of her flight suit. Hot searing passion shot through her when
she felt his hands on areas of her body that only seconds before had been
covered with fabric.

"Mara, I need you," Skywalker rasped beside her ear, as hands roamed over
her exposed breasts. "I promise you not to bog you down with kids, or tell
you where to live. Just to be near you is all that matters."

A sob escaped her lips at his words and deep down inside her heart she knew
that it was the same with her. She needed Skywalker but she was too afraid
to admit it out loud. Last night had been magical and she had never felt so
connected to another human being than with Skywalker before. But was she
prepared to pledge her life to him? He wanted children and she didn't know
if she could give him what he desired.

The young Jedi had picked up on her troubled thoughts and after another hot
and wet kiss, he tore his mouth away from her and leant his head against hers.

The both shuddered when their bodies shifted and his need brushed against
her secret core.

<i>*Even if you never feel prepared to have children, Mara, I will gladly
accept it,*</i> he sent her. <i>*But don't deny us both the pleasure of
being together, like this,*</i> With this he kissed her deeply, guiding one
of her hands to his throbbing manhood. He groaned out when her hands
wrapped around his fabric covered rod and for a moment he thought he could
not contain himself any longer.

Gasping for air, he tried to concentrate on the Force, drawing power and
control from it. This woman overwhelmed him every time he had her in his
arms and he knew that it was only a small step to just taking her right
there and then.

"Luke," Mara gasped when she picked up on some of the images their Force
bond showed her and her body shivered in anticipation. "We can be like this
... without marriage ... "

She felt more than saw that Luke frowned, and she squeezed her eyes shut
when Luke raised his head to look into her face.

"No ..." Luke breathed, and gently brushed over her face with a trembling
finger. "I want to do this right, I want you ... and I want everyone to
know that you are the woman in my life."

Mara looked away from him. "Uncle Owen will be proud of you, Skywalker,"
she bit out bitterly. "All of a sudden that teaching is coming to fruit."

Luke stared at her, a deep frown on his face. "What do you mean?"

Mara turned her head to face him, green eyes boring into him.

"You once said to me we are the sum of our upbringing and education ... you
surely are. And you are a hypocrite. When Callista was around you didn't
even think about marrying her, but now - faced with the wrath of your Uncle
- you are willing to marry me to have seexx on a regular basis, just to keep
dear Uncle Owen off your back."

Shock and anger reverberated through the Force and Mara pried her legs off
his waist.

Skywalker was just staring at her, blinking several times before his mind
fully registered what Mara had accused him of.

"I ... I .." he started then bit his lips.

"What Skywalker? Rancor got your tongue?" Mara inquired harshly as she
tried to sort out her clothing. With a frown she noticed that she had a
tear in the front of her undertunic. With a mumbled expletive she zipped up
her flight suit.

"I just can't believe you would misjudge me so much, Jade," Luke bit out,
the Jedi mask back in its place. "I'm sorry, Jade, for thinking that there
was more between us than just mutual attraction."

Pain speared through Mara and all she could do not to let her anger at
Skywalker get the better of her, was to grit her teeth and clench her fists.

"I don't want you to commit yourself to someone for all the wrong
reasons, Skywalker," the trader said slowly and Luke almost didn't hear her.

"What?" he asked, stepping closer to her. "Why would we marry for all the
wrong reasons?"

Mara turned to face him but somehow she kept her eyes averted. She wasn't
prepared yet to see either pain or anger in her best friend's eyes and she
stubbornly refused to look at him.

"Mara," Skywalker whispered as he placed a slender finger underneath her
chin and tilted her face upward. "Why would it be for the wrong reasons?"

"Skywalker ... " Mara bit her lips. "You shouldn't feel to be obliged to
follow suit anything that your uncle demands of you ... You didn't do
anything wrong, you are an honourable man and if he thinks less of you
because you just live your life than he can jump into a Sarlacc pit for all
I'd care. If Owen cannot accept the way you are with all your little
imperfections like any other human being than he should stay away from you,
but you shouldn't let him bully you into a marriage that is wrong. The
reason for this marriage is wrong because he thinks you are dishonourable."

Mara shook her head when Luke started to open his mouth to reply.

"Luke, you always wanted a family and children, don't destroy this prospect
by just abiding to your Uncle's every whim. I told you I'm not wife
material, I could never give you what you wish for. Don't throw away all
this ..." She heaved a sigh and rested her head against his chin.

"Can I say something now?" The Jedi Master replied and Mara nodded her head
yes.

"Mara Jade," he started and forced her to look up into his eyes again. "Do
you honestly believe that I would think I'm dishonourable if I had sex
before marriage? Even with my uncle breathing down my back?"

He waited till Mara shook his head.

"Glad, we are agreeing on this one," he picked up her hands and rubbed his
thumbs slowly over the pulse points on her wrists. "Yes, the prospect of
making love to you is a big bonus point in this marriage, but," here he
pulled her hands nearer towards him so that Mara had to take a step closer.
"But as you so quaintly put it we could do that without the vows. I want
you in my life, I want you to come home to me after a trading run. Wait for
you with hot chocolate and a back rub. Either on Coruscant, Yavin or any
other planet you chose for us to live. I want to kiss you and hold you
without thinking about the consequences or anyone thinking it is improper.
I want you, Mara Jade, and I want to make it right with all the bells and
whistles so that no one even dares to snicker or think that this is just a
fleeting thing."

Skywalker heaved a big sigh after his confession. Staring intensely into
her green eyes he tried to gauge her reaction but Mara's barriers were up
tight and all he could see reflected in those green eyes of hers were a dim
reflection of himself staring back at him.

"Farmboy ...." Mara whispered, uncertain what to tell him. Her heart had
opened during his confession, but she was unsure if she was worthy of such
a man.

"Just say yes, Mara, and if it doesn't work , it doesn't work out. But at
least give us a chance," Skywalker murmured and bent his head to brush
softly over her lips with his mouth, waiting for her answer.
-------------------------

Leia was pacing up and down the corridor. More than once she had been
tempted to knock on the closed door to the cargo hold or put her ear to the
durasteel.

When she heard the audible click of the cargo hatch opened, she turned
around and watched the couple stepping into the corridor.

"Luke?" Leia asked, after she had unsuccessfully probed him through the
Force, but her brother only shook his head as he passed her.
Leia watched with a shocked expression on her face as her twin brother
walked up to Owen Lars who was quietly conversing with his back to him.

"Mara, what is he going to do?" She asked as she held the trader back.

"Something that was a long time coming," Mara replied cryptically and both
women watched as Luke Skywalker, Farmboy turned Jedi Master, faced his uncle.
----------------------------------

TBC by Angela

okay, here's another favorite part of mine......
Hope you enjoy it!
And thanks SOOOOO much to everyone who had reviewed this RR. We
three evil writers had a lot of fun writing it and it's always good
to know that someone enjoys it :))
Sherry

Chapter 17
(Una)

-------------------------

Leia was pacing up and down the corridor. More than once she had been
tempted to knock on the closed door to the cargo hold or put her ear
to the durasteel.

When she heard the audible click of the cargo hatch opened, she
turned
around and watched the couple stepping into the corridor.

"Luke?" Leia asked, after she had unsuccessfully probed him through
the
Force, but her brother only shook his head as he passed her.

Leia watched with a shocked expression on her face as her twin
brother
walked up to Owen Lars who was quietly conversing with his back to
him.

"Mara, what is he going to do?" She asked as she held the trader back.

"Something that was a long time coming," Mara replied cryptically and
both women watched as Luke Skywalker, Farmboy turned Jedi Master,
faced his uncle.
----------------------------------

Chapter 18
(Sherry)

Luke took a deep breath, all the thought and emotions whirling
through his mind. Never did he expect this trip to end like this,
for him to bare his soul and body to his best friend and to ask such
an important question of that friend.

Luke resisted the urge to look away, his uncle's cold eyes bringing
forth the same fear they always had. The Jedi Master took a deep
breath, knowing there was no other way to do this than just get it
over with. "Uncle Owen, you need to ask Jebb and his wedding
entourage to leave," he requested slowly and softly.

Owen exploded at the apparent refusal of his solution, brushing aside
Beru's arm that reached out to contain him.

Luke didn't budge but couldn't help but flinch as the man stepped
closer, rage written on his face, until he was only inches from
Luke. "You're telling me that you will not let Jebb marry you and
that...woman and fix this mess you've gotten into."

Luke forced the words out, having never been allowed or able to stand
up to his uncle before but knowing he had to now. "That's what I'm
saying." Luke stepped away; unable to stand such close contact and
turned to Jebb. "I'm sorry you wasted your time coming here but there
will be no wedding for you to perform."

Jebb stared at the man in amazement, having no clue as to what was
going on. He didn't show the disappointment on his face and not
being able to marry off the famous Jedi Master. "Uh, are you sure?
I mean I can wait."

Luke glanced back at Mara who nodded slightly then he turned back to
Jebb. "That won't be necessary, I'm afraid."

Jebb nodded slowly, not bothering to look at the simmering man who
glared at Luke. He quickly gathered his people up, descending the
boarding ramp that Mara had so eagerly opened for them.

Owen was beyond furious. "Not only did you humiliate me in front of
Jebb, you have made a mockery of everything Beru and I struggled to
teach you."

Owen took Luke's arm, meaning to shake him but for once, Luke
reacted. He shrugged his arm loose, stepping away. "I learned every
lesson you taught me, Uncle Owen. How could I have not with the way
you taught them to me?" His meaning was clear to everyone but Han
and Leia, who had yet to confirm their thoughts about Luke's unusual
behavior around his uncle.

Owen sneered. "I should have taught you more then," his hand snaked
out, open palm striking Luke's face.

Luke stumbled a bit and held up his hand when Han and Mara started
toward Owen. "No, leave him be."

Luke straightened back up, rubbing his cheek, still bruised from the
last hit and now hurting all over again. "Is that all?" he asked
Owen.

The burly man seemed confused by the question, unsure of Luke's
attitude. "Is that all?" he mocked.

Luke watched him carefully. "Yes, make sure that you get all your
hate of me out now because this will be the last time you ever hurt
me again," the soft, calm voice explained.

Luke didn't notice the tears in Leia's eyes, as the unimaginable was
impossible not to see anymore. Her hand went to her mouth, holding
in the sob of pain and guilt at the things her brother had had to
endure.

Mara was pacing, wanting more than anything to just end the miserable
life of Luke's tormentor. She kept a close eye on Owen, noticing
that Han had moved closer to the man as well, his expression tight
but his eyes bright with anger. Mara felt a wave of calm descend
over her and knew that it wasn't Luke doing it. She was feeling the
love that the people in the room had for Luke and she knew he would
be all right. They all would make sure of that. She stopped pacing
to watch Luke confront his demons.

Luke struggled a bit, having so much to say and not sure he had the
strength to do so. "I'm not sorry who my father was, nor am I sorry
that I am a Jedi. The force is as much a part of me as this air," he
motioned with his hand, "that we breath. I am a Jedi and that will
never change."

Owen shook his head. "I never wanted you to know about the sorcery
and who you came from."

Luke frowned. "I came from parents who made mistakes. Just like I
have, just like you have. You couldn't have kept me on Tatooine
forever and you couldn't have kept me in the dark about all this."

Luke took a deep breath, words just not coming to him. "I listened
to everything you taught me, Uncle Owen. I really did and I tried so
hard to please you but I never could. I have to stop trying now."

Owen's eyes narrowed. "You can blame me for a lot, Luke, but you
can't blame your poor choices of your lifestyle on me."

Luke nodded. "I'm not trying to." Luke shifted his weight from one
foot to another. "The hitting stops now," he almost whispered. "I
learn my lessons my own way now."

He locked eyes with Owen and for the first time, he didn't look away
or waver. And for the first time, Owen saw something in Luke's eyes
that he never had before. There was a pain in the eyes that had
before only been full of wonder.

Luke continued. "When I heard you were alive, I was so relieved that
my family would soon be in my life again. It hasn't gone well so far
and it can't continue." He steeled himself to ask the one thing he
dreaded hearing the answer to most. " I'm asking you if you want to
be in my life or not, my life, mistakes and all."

Owen continued to stare at Luke while Beru stepped closer, her hand
reaching out to rub the bruise on Luke's face. "I should have tried
harder to make it stop.."

"No," Luke laid his hand over hers, "I can't do this. I can't keep
going back. No more talk of the past. I just need to know whether
my future includes the two of you."

Beru didn't stop the tears that threatened to overflow. "We're just
old people, Luke, set in our ways. It'll take time to get used to
all this."

Leia couldn't help herself, she wrapped her arm around Beru's
shoulder. "We know that. I believe that all Luke wants is for you to
get to know him, the real him and not the person that you've been
condemning."

Beru turned her head to stare at the woman comforting and encouraging
her. The woman who reminded her of another that she knew so long
ago. She looked from the brown eyes of the daughter to the blue eyes
of the son, seeing them both for the first time as not only children
of the past but as adults who had shaped a new future. She had read
the reports and bulletins while en route here after being rescued.
If half of what she had read was true, then the children had far
surpassed their parents.

Beru nodded slowly, not looking to Owen for confirmation as she
normally did. "I want to know you, Luke. I want to know both of
you." She smiled at Leia through her tears.

Luke resisted the urge to wrap his arms around his plumpish aunt as
he used to do. There was still another matter to deal with, his
uncle. Luke's smile slowly vanished as his gaze settled on the man
he didn't expect to ever understand.

Owen ignored Beru's emotional outburst, concentrating only on his
nephew. "I don't change for anyone," he grumbled.

Luke nodded. "I'm not asking you to. I'm only telling you that from
now on, I'll walk away from your anger. And I'm asking you to give
me, as an adult, a chance to show you who I am."

Owen tore his gaze from Luke's and he stared off outside through the
open ramp. "We'll see."

Luke almost chuckled, those words more than he imagined he would ever
get. He glanced back at Mara, her face scowling and held out his hand.

They all watched, surprised as she slipped hers into his and allowed
herself to be pulled forward to his side. Luke took a deep
breath. "Now, if we're all in agreement that we're going to get
along now..." He waited till they each nodded, Owen's being the last
and a begrudging one at that before he continued, "Mara and I would
like to invite all of you to accompany us somewhere."

Leia let go of Beru, letting Han hand the still crying woman a
cloth. Han then pulled his own wife close, frowning at Luke. "Where
would we be going, kid?" he asked.

Luke couldn't help but grin at Mara, who tried her best to look
irritated at his joy but couldn't quite manage it.

Luke was grinning so wide, it was hard to talk. He pulled Mara even
closer, pressing her against his side and ignoring the look that Owen
was giving him. "Mara and I are going to a little chapel that I've
heard stories about my entire life." Luke glanced at his
aunt. "Stories from my aunt about how she and my uncle were married
there."

Beru's mouth opened but no words came out. Leia forced them out of
hers. "What are you talking about, Luke?"

Mara moved from Luke's embrace to face his sister. "Leia, Luke and I
are going to be married today."

Mara tensed, not knowing whether tears or a blow would come first.
Instead Leia stared at her. "But Luke told Jebb that you weren't
getting married..."

Mara interrupted. "No, Luke told Jebb that he wouldn't marry us here
the way Owen wanted."

Luke leaned forward, his arm sliding around Mara's chest. "But we are
getting married."

He was forced to let go of Mara when a hand reached out and grabbed
him, pulling him into an embrace. "You had me going there for a
minute, kid. Congratulations." Han hugged his brother close,
thrilled at the news.

Mara took a deep breath as Leia continued to only stare at her. She
flinched when the former princess finally spoke again......

.............to be continued by Angela...........................

ALright it seems that I keep doing this, but I am sorry for not
noticing that it was my turn to post this. I seemed to get
distracted real easy these days! But it's for good reasons I swear,
ask anyone. Ok enough babble, I have made everyone wait far too
long. Here is the next part to my fav RR. :)

>He was forced to let go of Mara when a hand reached out and grabbed
him, pulling him into an embrace. "You had me going there for a
minute, kid. Congratulations." Han hugged his brother close,
thrilled at the news.

Mara took a deep breath as Leia continued to only stare at her. She
flinched when the former princess finally spoke again.<

Part 19
(Angela)

"I can't believe I could not see this coming," Leia said,
not taking
her eyes off of Mara. <i>Could this be what they wanted?</i> She
thought to herself. Did they want to be together, or was it merely a
result of what Luke had been forced to endure right under her nose?
Was it something she needed to stop? At that point all she wanted to
do was help Luke any way that she could. But she could not read him,
could not figure out what he was thinking.

He seemed happy, but there was something else there, something that
did not feel right. Looking over at Luke she had to smile. He was
still trying to escape the wookie hug her nerf of a husband had him
trapped in.

"Do you love him?" Leia asked. She balked at her on audacity,
she had
not meant to ask the question in quite that way, but it was too late
for that. It was out there, and Mara stood watching her in
disbelief. Leia did not back down, Mara would either answer the
question or she wouldn't. Leia just hoped that either way she
would
have a better idea of what was really going on.

"I...." But before Mara could finish, Han came over and
tried to hug
her as well. "That's far enough Solo."

Han looked dejected, but did not come any further. Instead he came
over and hugged his wife. This information did not seem to shock him
in the least, should she be able to just accept it as well?

"I don't understand you Luke." Owen was still standing
next to his
wife. Leia had to give him credit, the open hatred that was so a
part of his face when he talked to Luke, seemed to be restrained. It
would seem that when Owen Lars gave his word, he did not give it
lightly. He was really trying. It was not a huge difference, but to
her trained eye, she was able to pick it up. "Then why the big
show
of kicking Jebb out of here, was it merely to get back at me?"

Luke shook his head, and studied his feet before raising his eyes
once again. "That was not what I was trying to accomplish,"
he said,
his voice strong, but calm. "I just wanted you to know that this
would not happen your way. What I do is my decision. I don't
always
go against yours just because they were your ideas."

Luke watched his uncle. He actually seemed to consider Luke's
words,
but then he frowned. Luke waited for his outburst, so used to it,
that he was surprised when it did not come. Owen remained quiet.
Luke turned to hide his astonishment and looked around the group of
people standing beside him, family and friends alike. It was then
that he realized that Fixer and Camie were still standing there,
quiet in one corner. A smile spread to his face once again.

"You two of course are invited as well," he told them,
finding the
perfect distraction from the tension that was once again starting to
build. He was rewarded for his comment when they both smiled.

"That place can hold much more then us," Fixer said, coming
over to
shake Luke's hand. "And there are lots of people here that
would love
to attend. Is that ok?"

"Are they going to show up either way?" Luke asked. He
suddenly had
a vision of the graceful building being overwhelmed by swarms of
Tatooinians. He shuddered at the thought.

"Probably," Fixer said, looking over at his wife. Yes, he
realized,
all it would take would them telling a few people and everyone in the
area would be there. He glanced over at Mara, and did not even have
to probe her to know that she did not want all those people there.
Thinking fast he hoped his idea would at least help in that area a
little.

"Then I guess we should go ahead and extend the invitation,"
Luke
said, but his voice sounded pinched. "But try to keep it to
people
that I at least have heard of"

"Can't make any guaranties," Fixer said, his smile
growing. He and
Camie bid their goodbyes, and assured them that they would do their
best to only tell those people that had a personal connection to Luke
and his family. They were down the ramp without another word. Mara
slapped the ramp control as soon as they stepped off it.

"I get the feeling this may get worse then if we held this on
Coruscant," Mara groaned, leaning against the wall, her hand
going to
her forehead.

"Nothing could be worse than that," Luke told her. He knew
that had
they done this on <i>any</i> major NR planet, there would be no way
they could keep it small.

Luke could see his aunt out of the corner of his eye, and he tried
not to smile at the older woman's reaction to his words. She
seemed
surprised when he mentioned Coruscant. It was going to be
interesting to witness events as they see just how many changes have
happened to him. It was obvious that even after all that had
transpired they both still saw him as the young boy that knew nothing
but the farm on Tatooine.

His contemplation of the older woman was shattered as the space
around them vibrated with the effects of the near ear shattering
rumble that erupted outside the ship. The vibrations from the
explosion sent them all sprawling on the floor.

Unsure of what had just happened, Luke forced his eyes open, and
realized he was laying face down on the floor. He shook his head,
trying to clear the annoying ringing that was assaulting his ears.
<i>Something just exploded,</i> he realized. Picking himself up
quickly Luke took off towards the ramp.

It seemed like forever before the ramp lowered enough for him to jump
out. Smoke had quickly filled the enclosed space, so much so that he
could not gage where it was coming from. He was able to determine
that the screams he heard were that of people that were trying to get
out. One voice stood out above the rest, more leveled then the
others. Locking onto that voice, Luke was able to locate the owner
of the hanger.

"The ship just blew," he was yelling. The man was warning
him he
realized. "If we don't get that fire out we will lose that
other one
next to it." The sanity of the area kept deteriorating as the
people
became more panicked at the mans words. Something needed to be done
now. He took a moment to glance over and see the other people that
had just been occupying the ship with him, run down the lowered ramp.

"We need to get these people out of here before that other ship
blows," Luke said, looking back at his companions. "Mara you
need to
get on board the <i>Fire</i> and get her shields up. That should
protect it. Get it out of here if you can."

"I'm needed here, Luke," Mara argued. "I will not
run and hide."

"It's not hiding, Mara." Luke told her. "We can
handle things here.
But if your ship gets caught up in the next explosion, it's going
to
cause even more damage, and hurt a lot more people. You are not
running Mara. You are helping. Or would you like someone else to
move your ship for you." She did not move, her eyes narrowing
into
slits and Luke had a feeling she was not going to listen. If she
chose to argue, he knew he would have to force the issue, something
that would not go over well with the trader. Finally she nodded.

"No, I will do it." Mara took at a fast run back into her
ship,
raising the ramp. He could feel as well as hear the shields power up
then the engines warming. The ship was rising into the air before he
could start scanning the area hit worst by the blast to see if there
was still anyone inside. It surprised him when he saw that there
was. Making sure that the last four members of the <i>Jade's
Fire's</i> occupants were moving the others out of the hanger he
pushed his way closer to the wreckage.

"Luke what are you doing?" Leia yelled out. He paused and
turned
back to his sister, she was looking at him in disbelief.

"There are still people alive in there," he told her. In his
opinion
that should have been all she needed to hear.

"You can't help them," she insisted desperately.
"It's too
dangerous." He could not leave people trapped she should have
known
that. But she was just being Leia. He would not let her talk him
into something he knew he could not do.

"I have to get them out," He insisted, she was wasting
precious time,
by keeping him standing there. "Get those people out of here.
I'll
be right behind you."

Leia did not budge, and he did not have time to argue with her about
it. He looked to Han for help. He nodded gravely and took Leia by
the arm.

"Let's get out of here Leia," he said sternly. "Luke
can take care
of himself, but these people here need our help." Luke was
satisfied
to see Han as he practically had to drag Leia towards the exit.

"I'm helping," Owen said as he ran up to his side.
"Solo will get
Beru out." Luke shook his head but he did not have time to argue
with his uncle. He continued to push his way towards the ship. He
could feel people near he knew it. But the closer he got he realized
that it was not in the ship that he could feel people, but off to the
side of it. He concentrated on the two figures he could feel and
followed them. He saw movement in a pile of rubble and started
pushing things out of the way. He was barely conscience of the fact
that His uncle Owen was working right next to him. All he could
think about was getting those people out of there.

Luke was relieved when he finally uncovered a hand, and watched as it
moved when the fresh air hit it. He dug faster, throwing the pieces
of material out of his way as fast as he could. All too slowly he
uncovered more and more of the person struggling to get out from
under the ruble. His heart tore when he recognized the face through
all the grime.

"Camie," he whispered. She was trying to heave herself up,
so he
took her under the arms and pilled her from the debris. Looking
around his heart sank further. It dawned on him that it was more
then possible that the other person he still felt was Fixer.
Blocking out Camie's cries he went back to the task of digging
the
trapped man out.

Another explosion rocked the foundation of the hanger, and for a
moment Luke thought that it was the other ship. But it was still
standing untouched by the flames. He felt Owen's hand on his
arm,
and looked up at the older man.

"We need to get out of here," Owen insisted. "Fast.
That other ship
will go at any moment."

"He's still alive," Luke informed him, turning back and
resuming his
digging. "I have to help." Owen started to protest and for
once it
did not occur to Luke to be frightened. He stilled the man's
arguments with a single look. "Get Camie out. I'll be right
behind
you. I have to get him out first."

"I should stay, Luke," Owen pushed. "You will need
help."

"She may not be able to get out on her own, Uncle Owen," Luke
countered, wishing for once this trip people would stop questioning
him. "I'll be right behind you."

"I'm not leaving you in here, Luke," Owen warned.
"We go together,
or not at all."

"You will go now, because I will be able to move faster carrying
Fixer, then you will be dragging Camie. Go now while you still
can." With a final glare, Luke's words hit home, and Owen
took hold
of the screaming woman's arm and pulled her towards the exit.
Luke
missed him looking back as he once again had started digging for all
he was worth.

There was a hand, he was sure of it, but it wasn't moving.
<i>I'm
not too late,</i> he told himself. He would not let himself believe
that. Another explosion rocked the hanger and he covered his head as
another layer of debris fell from the ceiling. <i>There!</i> The
arm, he was getting close. He was soon pulling the body out of the
pile and away from the wreckage. Fixer, it was him. He could still
fill the other man, and knew that he was at least still alive.

The other man started coughing as Luke sat him down to reposition his
hold on him. It shocked Luke when the man tried to stand cradling his
arm. It was most likely broken but he was alive, but how long he
stayed that way was up to him.

"Let's go," Luke told him, hoping Fixer would not give
him any
trouble as he tried to get them both to safety.

"Luke, your hands!" Luke looked down and for the first time
saw the
bloody mess he had made of his left hand. And the damage did to his
right hand as well. <i>That's going to need to be replaced,</i>
he
thought. Then he pushed the thought away. Scanning the area he
assured himself that there was no one else trapped.

"Let's get out of here," Luke said again, and helped the
man towards
the exit.

Fixer felt like every part of his body was on fire. The pain was so
great that he was having trouble thinking. He was moving only
because Luke was pulling him. When Luke suddenly tackled him to the
ground, he was so unprepared that it knocked the wind out of him.
But Luke held him there. Fixer was about to protest the abuse when
the biggest explosion yet rocked the building, causing the rest of
the ceiling fall. He waited to feel the crushing of the material
falling on them, but all he heard was a grunt. It seemed like
forever before the sound of the falling rubble stopped. Once it was
over, and he realized that he was not dead he tried to move, but Luke
was still pinning him down.

"Luke, are you alright?" There was no answer. Trying to
move he
became worried when Luke did not respond. Fearing that he would hurt
the man that had saved his life he laid still. Someone would come
find them soon and they would both be fine.

tbc....

-------Sherry's next!-------

Chapter 20
(Sherry)

Owen quickly located Han, Leia and Beru off to the side, still
inside the hangar and ushering the others out. He made his way
closer to them, Camie still clutched close to him, hurrying her
along.

Han was yelling at the people, trying to tell them to be calm but
still trying to get them out. He had just finished pushing the last
person through the exit when Owen arrived, his face flushed. Leia
reached out for Camie, just as Beru did and they quickly consoled
the woman, telling her that Fixer would be just fine.

Han gave them a moment but kept watching the direction of the
explosion. There was something that was making the hair of the back
of his neck stand up and he just couldn't figure it out. But he
knew, from all his life experiences, that something was still
wrong. "Ladies, you need to get outside where it's safe." Ignoring
their looks of protest, Han's hand rested on his wife's back,
forcing her out the door, with the other women following.

But the Corellian himself didn't continue through the exit, toward
safety. He watched as the women made their way toward the second
entrance, leading outside then he moved back inside the hangar
entrance. Just as Owen was doing, he stood perfectly still, staring
toward the heavily damaged area of the hangar, both men desperately
trying to catch sight of Luke.

Owen shook his head, everything making more sense to him now. "He's
not like them, is he?" he whispered, not caring if anyone heard.

But Han had heard and Owen's words gave him a bit of hope, hope that
the man would finally see Luke for himself and not just as the
result of evil. "No, he's not. Luke is a true Jedi, always putting
others before himself. He's a good man, Owen." Han's voice was
proud, showing exactly how much he cared for the man who was risking
his own life to save another.

The burly man looked over at Han; ready to agree when another
explosion tore through the corner of the hangar. Both men sank to
the floor and covered their eyes, the explosion rocking the
floor. "What now?" Han yelled out as Owen uncovered his own head
to look around. Suddenly Han knew what had been worrying him,
explosions like this were almost always followed by collapses. He
pushed Owen down again as the groaning and creaking echoed as a
large section of the hangar collapsed. Han squeezed his eyes shut,
his heart screaming out for Luke who was caught in the fallout.
Finally the two men brushed away the minor debris from themselves
and scrambled to their feet.

The ground was still trembling and debris was settling as the two
raced toward where Luke should have been, their eyes watering from
the billowing dust. Han skidded to a stop a few meters from the
smoldering ship frame, his eyes glued to the large pile of debris.
He glanced upward, finding it odd how the sunlight streamed through
the roof of the hangar, spotlighting the area where he was sure Luke
was buried.

"Luke!" Han called out, his voice strained with tension and his gaze
returning to the pile of stone and mortar. He knew Luke had gotten
out of many situations before but he just couldn't see how he could
have survived this one.

Han watched as Owen stopped and began scrounging through debris,
calling out his nephew's name as he did. "Luke, you answer me boy,
do you hear me?"

Han froze, surprised to see such raw emotion on the seemingly
unfeeling man's face. Though for Owen to be upset was predictable,
this amount of emotion he never would have imagined possible.

"Help me, Solo. We have to find him." Owen screamed as his hands
blindly threw stones and other broken parts of the ceiling out of
his way.

Han looked around then dropped to a spot on the opposite side of the
collapsed ceiling and began to dig through the rubble, muttering
Luke's name as he did.

**************************************

Mara Jade ran faster than she ever had before, dodging people and
ignoring their shouts as she did. Even after her lungs burned and
her legs ached, she continued to run, pulling the Force around her
to help. She had landed the Jade's Fire as close as she could and
was now making her way back toward the hangar as most people fled
from it, having felt the second explosion through Luke. But now...she
felt nothing.

Mara ran into the gathered crowd outside the hanger bay, shoving
them away as she could but they still wouldn't let her through,
wouldn't let her get to Luke. Drawing her lightsaber and thumbing
it on, she felt a wave of satisfaction as the crowd parted for her.
She made her way into the building, stopping as soon as she entered
and saw Leia and Beru helping Camie out of the very place she was
entering. "Where is Luke?" She asked, thumbing the saber off.

Beru and Camie looked at her with shocked eyes but Leia met her
gaze, her strength taking over her fear. "He was helping Fixer out
when the building gave. Han and Owen are trying to find him...Mara,
they need you."

Mara nodded, knowing it wasn't easy for Leia to acknowledge anyone
needing her. "I'll find them." Without another word, she dashed
through the opening leading to the dusty, decimated hangar and
stopped cold in her tracks at the sight before her. Mara Jade had
seen many things in her life but couldn't remember any of them
making her heart go cold as the scene before her did. The lights in
the hangar were off; only a few errant ones that had malfunctioned
were now blinking erratically as the emergency beeping did as well.
Her gaze skimmed the tattered walls and strewn about items, settling
on the sunlight streaming from outside through a gaping hole in the
ceiling. "Oh, Luke," she mumbled, reaching out through the Force
for him once again but not finding him.

Though Luke's presence wasn't to be found, she latched onto another
familiar one, ignoring the panic she felt in him. She quickly
pinpointed Han's location, directly under the sunlight, and raced
toward him, jumping over large sections of ceiling as she did.

Han stopped rummaging as soon as he saw Mara, standing quickly and
rushing to her. "Jade, you have to find him."

Owen looked up from his own desperate digging, eyeing the dangling
cylinder on Mara's hip and realizing what Han meant. Mara was a Jedi
as well. He pushed himself up and approached them as Han continued
to speak. "You can locate him much quicker than us digging."

Mara stared at Han. "I'm not that good, Solo. Luke is unconscious,
that much I can feel, and without him reaching out for me, I don't
know if I can find him."

Han reached out and took Mara by the arms, shaking her once then
holding her still. "Listen to me, Jade. Luke is depending on you.
The two of you have a bond that I don't begin to understand but I do
know that you can use it to find him. You can do this." Han could
still see the doubtful look in her eyes. "Luke believes in you,
Mara, and so do I," he whispered.

Mara stared at him a moment then nodded. She jerked free from Han
and walked toward the remains of the ship, barely a smoking shell
now. Stopping suddenly, she reached out with the Force, calling
forth everything she had learned to sift through rubble and debris,
searching for life signs. Instead of becoming frustrated, she took
a deep breath and reached for the calm that she had felt inside Luke
so many times, amazed at how much clearer things were when she
obtained it.

She felt drawn to an area and she followed her instinct, calling out
for Han as she did. Owen followed and started to drop and dig when
Han pulled him away, his own eyes wide, as rocks seemed to fly from
the pile by themselves.

Mara concentrated hard on the rocks, having never tried this hard
before and was pleased when the pile began to move from her touch.
A smile half formed on her lips, her first thought being how proud
Luke would be of her. Her smile faded quickly though, as the rocks
moved and the men below them became visible. She hurried forward,
pulling and tugging to free Luke completely. "Luke, can you hear
me?"

A muffled voice was heard, but it wasn't Luke's. "He's been out
since the last explosion. I can't see him or tell if how badly he's
hurt." Fixer coughed the words out.

With Han and Owen's help, Mara cleared away everything from around
Luke, easing him over onto his back. While Han helped Fixer up,
Owen and Mara tended to Luke.

Mara brushed the blood from the corner of the Jedi Master's mouth,
her hands trembling at how cold he felt to her. Mara quickly
enveloped Luke in the Force, brushed across his body, searching for
broken bones and injured places, searching for the familiar presence
that was stilled. A rush of emotions overwhelmed her as Owen shook
his head in disbelief.

Mara watched as paramedics finally appeared in the doorway,
scuttling towards them. "We don't need the medics," she whispered,
everyone's gaze fixating on her, wondering exactly what she meant by
that and not wanting to give leeway to the morbid thoughts drifting
through their minds.

...............Yea, I love cliffhangers, lol...........

Chapter 21
(Sherry)

Owen drew back slightly to stare at the dirt smudged woman, his eyes
wide. "Of course we need them!" He almost yelled at her. Owen
dropped to his knees, ignoring the sharp rocks and debris as he
did. His hands fanned Luke's face, fingers digging into dust
covered flesh. "He can't be gone...."

Mara was assaulted by the wave of emotions pouring from the burly
man as his hands tenderly held Luke's face, pleading with the Jedi
to wake up. Mara watched for a moment, amazed at the gushing of
anguish from the seemingly unfeeling man. Then Mara reached out an
unsteady hand, taking Owen by the arm while keeping one arm under
Luke's head. "Owen, he's going to be fine."

Owen turned pain-ridden eyes toward her. "What did you say?"

Mara started to answer but couldn't as Leia pushed her way by Han
and Fixer, not stopping until she dropped beside Mara, her hands
trembling as she reached toward her brother. "Oh, Luke," she
whispered.

Mara shook her head, tightening her grip, pulling Luke's face closer
to her chest. "Leia, Luke is fine."

Leia reached out, her Force abilities limited but even as such,
clearly able to feel the bright, vibrant presence of her brother.
She half laughed, half sobbed Luke's name, leaning close to kiss his
forehead. "Yes, Luke is going to be just fine."

Owen was staring at them both, not understanding what they meant. He
glared at Mara. "You said we didn't need the medics." He gestured
toward the medics who stood behind Han, Fixer and Camie, all of them
not sure what to do.

Mara reached out toward Owen again. "Listen to me, Lars. We don't
need them because Luke isn't hurt."

Fixer pushed his way forward. "He was unconscious..."
Mara looked up at him, not sure how to explain this to them.
Finally she just leaned down, brushing her lips over Luke's. "Wake
up, Skywalker."

Owen scooted backwards, scrubbing his bottom on the rocks as he
backed away, eyes wide as Luke coughed a bit and his eyes opened.
He watched, wide eyed, as Mara helped Luke sit up a bit. Leia
hovered directly behind him, helping him as well.

Fixer stood staring, careful of the retreating Owen.

Mara couldn't help but smile at the Jedi Master as his gaze settled
on her first.

"Mara," he whispered.

The trader turned Jedi could feel her insides melt as the blue eyes
gazed at her. "How do you feel, Luke?" Mara asked, standing and
helping Luke to his feet. Beru immediately hugged him close, only
stopping when Owen pulled her away to survey his nephew himself.

They all watched as he pulled his shoulders back and flinched as he
did. "A bit sore but fine." His eyes snapped toward Fixer, who still
stood staring. "Are you alright, Fixer?" Luke started toward him,
only being stopped when Owen grasped his arm and turned him around.
Luke fought the urge to jerk away, instead letting his uncle hold
him in an iron grip.

Owen didn't realize how tightly he was holding Luke, so intent was
he on keeping Luke in place. "I don't understand...we thought you were
dead." Beru laid her hand on Owen's arm, but for the first time,
she did it in support of him and not as a reminder of his temper.
She could tell how upset her husband was, how upset he had been when
he had thought Luke was dead.

Luke wasn't sure how to answer so Mara filled in the blanks. "This
is my fault. I only meant that Luke didn't need the medics because
he was fine, not that he was dead."

Luke understood now. "I could feel the ceiling giving way, so I
pushed Fixer down and covered him. It was fine until something
struck me between my shoulder blades, knocking the wind out of me."

Leia gingerly ran her hand across her brother's back. "That's when
you slipped into a trance?"

Luke glanced to the side at her. "Yes, I just needed a few moments
to recover."

The Jedi Master turned back to his uncle, staring at him for a
moment, unaccustomed to the look on his face. "I didn't mean to
worry you," he glanced at Beru, "to worry any of you."

Owen finally let go of Luke's arm. "Well, you did." He turned and
walked away, stumbling over a few rocks and waiting at the edge of
the debris pile for the others. Beru watched him but stayed where
she was.

Fixer approached Luke hesitantly, and then held out his hand. "Thank
you."

Luke's eyes widened but he slipped his hand into that of the other
man's, gripping it tightly. "No thanks are necessary, Fixer." Luke
was further surprised when Camie reached out to him as well, not in
a handshake but to step close enough to give him a quick kiss on the
cheek.

Luke stared at them all, ignoring the aching in his back, and
stunned at how relieved they all seemed, even Owen. Glancing up at
the ceiling, he grimaced. "We were lucky that no one was killed
here."

Mara couldn't help it. She stepped forward, wrapping her arm around
Luke's waist. "We were lucky that you weren't killed."

Luke smiled down at her, brushing her lips with his. "Looks like
you've gotten a reprieve from marrying me," he joked.

"No," a voice boomed. They all turned to stare at Owen, who cleared
his throat after his sudden outburst. He took a few steps, moving
closer. He stammered a bit as he tried to word his question just
right. "You want to get married, right? Both of you?"

Luke glanced at Mara, who spoke for them both. "Yes, we do. But as
we explained, not because it's what you want."

Fixer brushed her comment aside. "But it is what you want?"

Mara nodded with no hesitation. "Luke and I want to get married."

Fixer nodded. "Then this," he gestured around, "isn't going to stop
you."

Luke finally found his voice, squeezing Mara to his side even
closer. "What are you talking about?"

Fixer's gaze settled on Beru for a long moment before finally
shifting to Luke. "I almost lost something, someone here today. I
think that it's time we stop worrying about the past and...and not
take anything for granted." He looked down at his feet, missing the
grins on both Beru and Luke's face.

Camie wrapped her arm around Fixer, careful not to hold him to
tightly and aggravate his injuries. "I couldn't agree more." They
all watched as Fixer gently kissed his wife. The once pesky man
suddenly looked at Luke. "And I know just what we're going to do."

Luke almost groaned, sure this wasn't going to be good. "What,
Fixer."

His childhood nemesis only chuckled. "You and Mara...all of you, are
coming back to our house. We're going to get you ready, take care
of everything and then there will be a wedding today."

Luke only stared, as did Mara. Beru clapped her hands together in
joy. "That sounds perfect." She moved closer to Luke. "Will you let
us do this?" Her gaze flickered to Mara. "Will you let us all help
you and Luke?"

Luke and Mara were at a loss for words, even more so when Leia moved
from behind Luke, where she had continued to rub his back. "I think
this is a wonderful idea."

Luke looked around at all the smiling faces, then down at Mara, then
back around after she had nodded her approval. " We think it's a
great idea and....let's do it!"

The medics only watched the strangers as they all whooped and
clapped, hugging each other. With a shrug at each other, the two
finally gathered back up their supplies, leaving the dusty strangers
to their celebration.

..............................to be continued......................

Oke, here is the final chapter of RR Returning.
Una wrote this, I'm just forwarding it for her.
This is a NC-17 chapter!!!

Chapter 22
by Una

Mara Jade bit her lower lip as she nervously brushed over the small
shift Camie had given her. The events of the day had been all a blur
to her, starting from the confrontation with Luke, then his Uncle
Owen to the collapse of the hangar.

The young woman walked over to the bed, staring at it, then closing
her eyes, she whirled around and resumed her walk in front of the
small window.

<i>Here I am, on some Sithforsaken dust ball of a planet and I don't
know what I'm doing here,</i> Mara thought, trying to get over the
events that also had transpired after the collapse of the hangar.

Her recollection of the wedding ceremony were like flashes of the
past, pieces of the future and the present. She remembered that Leia
had given her one of her dresses, a long flowing dress that pinched
her waist even more and brought out a neckline that was tolerable on
Leia, but which had looked downright seductive on Mara as her breasts
due to the slightly too small bodice had been pushed upwards.

Rolling her eyes, Mara sighed and rubbed her eyes tiredly. She knew
how she was shocked watching herself in the white dress, with Leia
hovering at her side, trying to put some precious flowers Camie had
come up with into her braided hair. She had no recollection
whatsoever how they had gotten to the wedding registration office
that was nothing more than a natural cave with red and orange wall
drawings - or the ceremony. All she could remember was the kiss Luke
had given her afterwards that had started a tingle that begun from
her toes to the top of her head.

<i>And now I'm here,</i> Mara thought and looked around the small
room.

Camie and Fixer had pointed out that they needed some privacy for
their wedding night and after much nagging, Luke had readily agreed
to get a room in one of the better hostelries.

<i>At least the room and the refresher facilities are clean</i>, Mara
thought and stopped in front of the shuttered window again.
Absentmindedly, she rubbed over the still sore patch on her arm. When
they had returned from the wedding chapel Mara and Luke had managed
to dash into the medical center, where she had gotten a shot of
repress meds.

She was glad that Luke had first suggested it, ushering her away from
their little band of family and friends and for a moment she had even
considered to decline his offer, knowing he wanted a family of his
own. But he had been adamant, telling her that this was only
temporary and that he would wait till she was happy to make such a
commitment as bearing his child.

Behind her, she heard the fresher door softly opening, then shutting
again and immediately she felt Luke's presence enveloping her.
Crossing her arms protectively over her chest, she waited while all
her senses were directed to the man who came up behind her.

"Still worrying, Mrs Skywalker?" Luke asked and hugged her close from
behind, nuzzling his face in the crook of her neck.

He felt Mara stiffening and for a moment he creased his brow.
<i>*Mara, what's wrong?*</i> he sent her through the Force and felt
her shivering in his arms. Turning her slowly, he came face to face
with green eyes that looked overly huge in her pale face.

"Did we do the right thing?" Mara blurted out after she had heaved a
big sigh. "I mean what if we go back to Coruscant and this was all a
big mistake?"

Luke watched her, and he had to admit that it was the first time that
he had seen Mara this confused. Cupping her face with his hands, he
drew small circles on her ivory skin with his thumbs.

"Why do you think it has been a mistake?" he asked softly, his eyes
never leaving her. "Is it because we didn't have the usual courtship
and all?"

"No, of course not, I don't need that .. but," her lips curved into a
small lips. "But we have been friends for so long and all of a sudden
there is this ... this ...."

"This passion and lust between us?" Luke finished her train of
thought and Mara had to smile at his lop-sided grin.

"Yes, something along the lines," Mara answered softly, trying to
step away and out of his arms.

Luke held her tighter, circling his arms around her tiny waist and
resting his head against her.

"Then we have to prove those silly thoughts wrong, don't we?" he
asked, his voice raspy and Mara shuddered as she lay her head against
his bare shoulder.

"Yes," she whispered as Luke tilted his head closer.

Their eyes locked and for a moment, Mara wondered how she had been so
blind all those long years. She loved him, she loved her farmboy.

When their lips melted to each other they both groaned out,
transfixed in each other's gaze, they turned on each other hungrily.

Mara groaned out when Luke's hands found the hem of her shift and in
one swift movement pulled it over her head. When skin met naked skin,
she almost swooned in his arms.

"Yes, " Mara whispered heatedly, as her hands roamed over the expanse
of his chest and back.

"Mara, I need you," Skywalker replied hoarsely to her kiss and
caresses and maneuvered them to the bed. Falling on top of the
sheets, Mara helped Luke frantically to shed his sleeping pants.

"You are beautiful, Mara," Luke rasped, bending over her and kissing
her deeply. Mara could not reply, the surge of passion, love and
respect for this man overwhelmed her.

"And you are beautiful, Farmboy," Mara replied, placing open mouthed
kisses on his chest but laid back when Luke started to encircle her
navel with his tongue.

Mara sighed softly when his hands moved over her exposed breasts,
worshipping them with his lips and tongue while his hands moved lower
on her body. The fire inside her was almost consuming her, she could
not fathom the depth of her feeling towards the Jedi Master but she
knew with all her being, that she could not wait anymore.

All pretenses was shed as she arched her back and tried to get as
close to him as possible.

When he lay naked on top of her at last, Mara shifted her legs,
opening herself up to him. When he felt her liquid fire with the tip
of his maleness, he tried to restrain himself.

"Mara... wait." But when she pushed her hips against him, feeling her
softness and moisture, bathing him with her heat, he could not wait
any longer. With a single powerful thrust of his hips he took her,
Skywalker buried himself deeply inside of her. She was ready and
tight, surrounding him like a glove.

He knew he had to slow down to give her as much pleasure as she gave
him but with his second thrust it was too late. He came with all the
might of the yearning for her in this passed months, pleasure burst
away from him repeatedly, wildly, touching him to the deepest roots
of his soul. He called out for her as he poured himself into her,
knowing only the wild release of his passion and the woman who was
the origin of it.

Mara heard his ragged cry, felt the trembling of his body as she held
him tightly as his climax made him shudder. The knowledge that he had
wanted her so badly that he could not restrain himself any longer
made her heart open up even more to him. Even though she had not
shared his release, she felt more alive and happy than she had ever
before. She felt tears welling up in her eyes and she pulled Luke
even more closely to herself, savouring every moment of her love for
Luke Skywalker.

After a long while, Luke's ragged breathing steadied and when he
stirred as though to roll away from her she held on to him. She
wanted to keep him inside of her, feel him. She did not want it to
end... ever. Luke raised his head slightly and kissed her gently on
the mouth, savouring the heat of the afterglow.

"I'm sorry," he whispered hoarsely. "I've never lost control like
that but when you..." He broke off when he noticed her tears. His
head jerked up and he studied her face intently.

"Oh, Stars, Mara, did I hurt you?" Hearing his raw emotion, Mara
smiled and caressed his cheek with her fingertips.

"You didn't hurt me, Luke," she answered his question huskily.

"But you're crying," he said in a harsh tone. "I must have hurt
you ..."

"No, you didn't. It was the thought that you wanted me, feeling you
fill me up with your need and having you so close inside of me made
me cry. I feel so incredibly happy..." she whispered against his lips
as she kissed him.

" I came so hard that I couldn't wait for you," he pecked her nose
and Mara put her fingertips against his lips and shook her head.

"Ssshhhh, I feel cherished and priced and what can a woman want more
than making love to a man who cannot restrain himself..."

"You are too generous, my love. But I promise you I make up for
this." And as he was saying this he moved inside her, already hard
again. "Do you feel what you're doing to me, Mara?"

"Yes," she whispered as her breath rapidly grew faster. This time,
Luke took his time, teasing her with his caresses, with his tongue,
his lips, his hands, his body. Mara watched him helplessly as he
savored her with evident pleasure, touching her nipple with the tip
of his tongue, suckling at it. His name came out like a ragged cry,
begging for more and Luke was only too ready to comply.

Slowly he moved inside her again but this time Mara demanded more,
she pushed her hips against his, driving him crazy with her sensual
movements and her sexy moans. And when she reached her climax his
name flew from her lips in a broken cry. She had never felt like this
before and she would have felt afraid about this shattering
experience had it not been for Luke's strong arms holding her gently.

+++++

The light of the two suns was already tinging the horizon when the
two lovers tired of their passionate loe making. Lying in each
other's arms, fingers lazily brushing over cooling skin, they both
grew still.

Luke Skywalker propped himself up on his elbow, as he lay closely at
Mara's side, watching his bride out of deep blue eyes. His hand
rested on her stomach, drawing lazy circles on her skin as he watched
her smile at him.

"Still not having enough?" Mara rasped and Luke grinned. Bending
down, he brushed softly over her lips that were swollen from too many
kisses.

"Just enjoying the view," Luke answered after they come up for air.
Softly, he cupped one of her breasts, caressing the pert mount as he
lovingly looked into Mara's eyes.

"I feel very honoured that you are my wife, Mara," he said in a low,
husky voice and Mara shuddered.

Mara blushed and covered his hand with her own, stopping his movement
temporarily. Rasing his callused palm to her lips she placed a soft
kiss onto it.

"And I feel honoured that you wanted to be my husband," she
whispered, her gaze never leaving his as she traced the lines on his
face with her other hand.

They laughed softly and kissed again, this time a lazy deep kiss full
of promise. After a while Luke settled down on his back, drawing Mara
onto his side so that she rested her head on his shoulder.

"I still can't believe that we are married now," Luke said with
wonderment in his voice and Mara chuckled.

"Why Farmboy, having second thoughts?"

"No, Mara, never about our marriage," Luke replied and kissed the top
of her head. "No ... the whole day was .. surreal ... I would never
thought I could stand up to Owen, or even him being so emotional at
our wedding .... It almost seemed that we are a family now."

Mara heard the doubt still lacing his voice so she pushed herself up
on her elbow to look into Luke's face.

"I think your uncle really wants to get to know you, Luke," she
whispered softly, smoothing the worry lines on his brow with a soft
finger. "And he was genuinely touched by the ceremony. You did well,
Farmboy."

"You think so?" Luke asked in a whisper.

"Yes, Luke. You did very well, and if I have to judge from the way he
awkwardly brushed over his eyes, I think he was proud of you and was
deeply touched."

"Yeah," Luke drawled, but no trace of smugness in his voice, only
wonderment. "He and Beru they were like I always wanted them to be,
warm, affectionate and loving ...."

His voice trailed away and he rubbed his eyes tiredly. Mara stilled
his hands and bright blue eyes opened to meet her gaze.

"Luke, tell me about your childhood?" she demanded softly and she
could feel Luke shivering slightly.

"There is nothing really special to talk about, Mara," he replied
quickly, too quickly for Mara's liking. But as if on cue, the
floodgates had opened.

"You noticed how Owen treated me, that is pretty much what I had to
put up with when I was living with them. Owen was always breathing
down my neck and I could never do something right," he bit his lower
lip in thought. "I think he was always afraid that I would turn out
to be another Anakin Skywalker. Perhaps he already saw the potential."

"I think he did," Mara agreed with him, brushing gently over his
face. "But I'm glad he realized the error in his ways. When you were
in your trance he really looked stricken. He thought you were dead
when I sent the medics away...."

Luke looked at her in disbelief and caught her hand. "You did what?"

Mara shrugged, an impish grin curving her mouth. "I had sensed you
were in a hibernation trance so what was the point of tieing up
medics who were needed somewhere else?"

"True ..." Luke conceded but then he remembered that Owen and Han had
been shell-shocked to see him up and about again and Mara's impish
smile told him a lot to put all the pieces together. "But you didn't
give Owen and Han a fright, did you? Like sending the medics away and
let Han and Owen think I'm dead?"

When Mara did not answer to his question, he shook his head.

"Mara, how could you?" he asked, then chuckled. "You were getting
back at Owen, right? Oh Mara, you are devious sometimes, I guess you
gave Han a heart attack."

"You should have seen his face, Luke, it was priceless," Mara giggled
and Luke hugged her closer.

"Not as priceless as Karrde's face when he gets the news of our
marriage," Luke retorted and both chuckled at that.

They grew still, drinking in each other's side and for a moment it
seemed that time stood still for them. Skywalker's heart was about to
burst, just looking at Mara Jade Skywalker, his wife, and for once he
threw caution to the wind.

"I love you, Mara," Luke whispered softly, squeezing his eyes shut as
if to prevent himself from seeing Mara's reaction to his confession.
For long heart beats he waited, waited for a reaction of Mara's.

Suddenly, he felt a butterfly touch on his chin and opening his eyes,
he could see Mara's tear filled gaze on him.

"And I love you, Farmboy," she whispered hoarsely before crushing his
lips with her mouth.

The two lovers kissed each other and at that moment they both knew
that nothing that the galaxy tried to throw at them, would hurt them
or their marriage.

End.