Disclaimers: Star Wars belongs to George Lucas. I just borrow the character=
s occasionally.
Rating: PG13

Took You Long Enough
By Rebelmom

With characteristic stealth, Mara Jade had slipped out of the surprise enga=
gement party thrown by Leia Organa-Solo. The guests were all friends of Luke=
's as well as a few of her co-workers. Not an overly social person, it wasn=
't long before she needed to escape. The party was being held in a secluded=
beach house on the shores of the western sea. Walking across the deck, she =
came to a set of stairs leading to the deserted beach. Removing her boots, s=
he held them in her hands and started to walk.

A soft breeze wafted over the waters. The ebb and flow of the tide sent wav=
es lapping against the white sands of the beach. Mara stood at the shoreline=
, allowing the surf to wash over her feet. The coolness of the water felt re=
freshing on her warm feet. Curling her toes, she dug into the wet sand as an=
other wave splashed up to her ankles. The calm, steady rhythm of the tide so=
othed her anxious soul. The quiet, lonely beach offered peace and serenity i=
n an otherwise hectic galaxy. Keeping to the water's edge, she continued her=
stroll. Her thoughts drifted to Luke Skywalker, her fianc?It was only a f=
ew weeks ago that they were on Nirauan, fighting for their lives. Now, they =
were to be married. To Mara Jade, the former Emperor's Hand, the idea was fo=
reign, but to Mara Jade, the woman, it was welcome. A smile grew on her face=
as a familiar presence brushed her senses.

Keeping a smile on his face, Luke tried desperately to end his conversation=
with Lando. He felt Mara sneak out of the party awhile ago and wished to jo=
in her. His chance finally came when Han asked Lando to join him and a few o=
f the Rogues in a sabacc game. Tossing an arm over Lando's shoulders, Han gu=
ided the man away from Luke. Leia came over, took Luke's arm and walked him =
to the nearest door. Kissing him on the cheek, she winked at him, then shooe=
d him out the door. Luke needed no further encouragement.

Luke set off at a slow jog, seeking to catch up with Mara who had ended up =
quite a distance down the shoreline. As he neared her, she turned around, wa=
tching him approach. Her smile brightened, then she crossed her arms, her bo=
ots still in her left hand, and waited. He stopped in front of her, but befo=
re he could say anything, she said, "Took you long enough."

Rolling his eyes, Luke replied, "Sorry. But I'll make it up to you."

"This sounds promising." Pushing a stray hair behind her ear, Mara gazed ou=
t over the sea. "I've always enjoyed coming here. So peaceful, so beautiful.=
"

Luke stood behind her, putting his arms around her waist and resting his ch=
in on her shoulder. "I've never been here."

Twisting in his embrace, Mara looked into his blue eyes. "Really? You need =
to get out more, Skywalker." Her lips touched his in a soft fluttery kiss.

"I'll go anywhere with you," he whispered.

Pushing his hands off her waist, she pulled away. "Good. Let's go." Mara s=
printed along the beach, heading towards a large rocky outcropping.

Luke set off after her, almost catching her when she threw her shoes at him=
. Neither hit him, both bouncing off a quickly erected shield and landing wi=
th a thud in the sand.

"Don't forget my boots!" Mara shouted.

Groaning inwardly and turning around, Luke went back and picked up the boot=
s. Mara was already sitting on a boulder when he reached the outcropping. "T=
ook you long enough."

"Here are your boots," he said, leaning against the boulder, next to her. T=
he boots plopped to the ground, precariously near the tide line.

Mara cocked a warning eyebrow at Luke. "Better not get my boots wet, Skywal=
ker."

Squatting down, Luke picked up her boots. He was about to toss them behind =
the boulder away from the water, but another thought crossed his mind. Smirk=
ing, he stood up, faced away from the water, wound up his arm and suddenly t=
urned to face the water, boots ready to be flung into the sea.

Mara caught his intent and sprung from her seat, knocking him on his back. =
Straddling his body, she pinned his arms to his sides and took her boots out=
his hands, tossing them safely aside. She released his arms but didn't let=
him up.

Luke remained still, smiling up at her. "Are you going to get off me or are=
you just getting comfortable?"

"That's my line."

Luke took hold of her arms and pulled her down until her face was close to =
his. "I know. It's one of my favorites."

Before she could reply, Luke put his hands on the sides of her head. Splayi=
ng his fingers, he ran them into her hair and gently pulled her even closer.=
His mouth captured hers, kissing her passionately. The kiss deepened as she=
responded in kind. His tongue traced her lips, probing and seeking entrance=
. Her lips parted and his tongue darted in to explore, to taste her sweetnes=
s. Her tongue joined his, dueling at first, then starting on its own explora=
tion. Not breaking the kiss, Luke moved his hands from her hair to her back.=
Carefully, he lowered her to his left side and rolled over so that he was o=
n top. Bracing himself on his elbows, Luke slowly pulled his mouth away from=
Mara's.

"I didn't say you could stop," scolded Mara. Throwing her arms around his n=
eck, she clasped her hands together and pulled him back down.

Obeying her command, Luke kissed a trail of fire along her throat, stopping=
at her collarbone. He moved to her earlobe, nibbling on it.

"Luke," she gasped.

"Yes," he whispered, then blew softly in her ear.

Mara shivered in response. "The tide is coming in."

"That's nice."

Mara's arms still clasped behind his neck, Luke rolled to his side, then ca=
ptured her lips again. His hands caressed her back, pulling her closer, thei=
r bodies pressed together. He could feel their hearts' beat as one, their pa=
ssion and desire building. Releasing her lips, his mouth moved to the side o=
f her neck, nipping until he reached her shoulder. Mara shuddered under his =
assault.

"Luke. The tide!"

In emphasis of her words, a wave splashed them, soaking their calves. Mara =
pushed off of him as Luke scrambled backwards on his bottom. His boots and p=
ants legs were wet. He bent his legs, unzipped his boots, took them off and =
dumped the water out.

Mara laughed. "Should have taken them off sooner, Skywalker."

Rolling his eyes at her comment, Luke tossed his boots over his shoulders. =
He stood up, brushing the sand off with his hands. When he was done, he real=
ized he was alone.

"Luke! Come up here," Mara called from the top of the outcropping.

Scaling the craggy mound, Luke soon joined Mara on its plateau. With one ba=
re foot resting on a granite slab near the edge of the rocks, she stood quie=
tly gazing out over the sea. In the distance, the endless skyscrapers of Imp=
erial City jutted towards the crimson, orange and yellow corona of coming tw=
ilight. A soft breeze fluttered her hair. Luke stepped beside her, clasping =
her left hand. Leaning her head onto his shoulder, she said, "It looks so mu=
ch nicer from here."

Placing a kiss on the top of her head, Luke said nothing. His thoughts were=
n't on the city, but on the woman next to him. An enemy who became an ally. =
An ally who became a friend. A friend who became a lover. Their connection i=
n the Force was astounding. She was everything he ever wanted and everything=
he'd ever need. Yet, there was one thing he wanted to do. His free hand fu=
mbled in his pocket.

"Mara, I've got something for you," he said.

Taking her foot off the rocks, she turned to face him, keeping hold of his =
right hand. She watched as he pulled his other hand out of his pocket. Gent=
ly pulling her left hand to his face, he kissed her knuckles, then brought h=
is left hand up and slipped a golden ring onto her finger. Sealing it with a=
nother kiss, Luke released her hands and waited. Mara silently examined the =
ring, twisting her hand around admiring it in the dimming light. It was craf=
ted in refined gold and had the appearance of two intertwined strands. Two t=
ogether, stronger than apart. Unending and seamless. "Together," she whisper=
ed.

"Forever," added Luke, pulling her into his embrace and hugging her tightly=
. "I love you."

Her palms on his chest, Mara moved them upwards, until she reached his shou=
lders. Standing on her toes, she brought her lips to his, kissing him deeply=
. Luke dipped his head, giving her easier access. Slowly, Luke broke the kis=
s. Holding her hand, he lowered himself to the ground, bringing her with him=
.

**

After showing Lando out, Han turned his attention to Leia. "Where are Luke =
and Mara? This was their party."

Leia smiled, but before she could reply, Luke and Mara entered the room. Sh=
e gave her brother a hug. Sand fell to the ground. Looking to Mara, she said=
, "Can I see it?"

"See what?" Han asked. "Where have you been?"

Luke answered, "I was giving Mara her ring."

Mara held her hand out. "See, Solo."

A lopsided grin forming on his face, Han cocked an eyebrow at the dishevele=
d couple. "Took you long enough."

THE END