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Author	Topic: The love of a father. NJO era. Mara/Luke. Flashbacks to before ANH and NJO.Part 2 is up!
Aiel Registered: Oct '04	Date Posted: 3/6/05 5:24pm Subject: The love of a father. NJO era. Mara/Luke. Flashbacks to before ANH and NJO.Part 2 is up! - Date Edited: 11/15/07 3:09pm (2 edits total) Edited By: Jedi Trace
	While Mara is giving birth to Ben. Luke becomes reflective of his own feelings of his father when he was growing up, and of conversations with Mara, before she fell in love with him, on the matter of being a father. A short story in two parts about growing up and the joy of parenthood. Yes, I know. Another short story to interrupt my continuing stories. I love short stories and this is one that just rose up and hit me in the back of my head, (A/N: Owww! Stupid computer!) And it’s a pleasant break from chapter writing, argh! It’s frustrating, and studying on top of it isn’t helping. But please enjoy this story and as always: Review, review, review, review! --------------------------------- DISCLAIMER: All preceding characters are the property of Lucasfilm and I am, in no way, claiming ownership by creating a story about them. It’s just an itch I have to scratch every now and then. ---------------------------------- The love of a father. Part one: By Aiel. ---------------------------------- Luke Skywalker had been beaming since the day he had found out Mara was pregnant, it was something that they had tried so hard for, something they both so desperately had wanted. A production of their love to raise and adore. But it seemed the time had flown by so fast, even in the middle of a war, and their son was about to enter the world, a world fast tearing itself apart, but a new, strange world nevertheless. Luke squeezed his wife’s sweating hand gently. “Calm Mara, shh. It’s going to be alright, just breath, breath,” he was trying to comfort her, Mara Jade-Skywalker looked at him and glared, her green eyes flaring underneath her fiery mane of red-hair. “I am calm, and I am breathing, thankyou very much Farmboy! Why don’t you take some of your own medicine?! You look like your going to pass out from lack of oxygen— ahhh!” She screamed again, the Mon Calamarian healer looked calmly at her charge. “The contractions are closer together now. It won’t be long till we get to meet Luke junior.” Cliegal said softly, Mara turned at gazed at her temperamentally, her pretty, pale face, that was speckled with tiny freckles over her nose, was red and pained. “Why would I call my son Luke? No offence Luke honey, but son of the sun? What will he be? Son of the son of the sun? What was your mother thinking?” She started grinding her teeth, Luke kissed her forehead. “Well that’s what it means in Huttaneese. But I don’t think my mother was from Tatooine. Leia’s built too delicately. So maybe it means something else,” he pointed out, Mara moaned in pain. “I don’t care, no Luke Jnr. But he’s got to have a name, you think of one, and if you dare name him Yoda I’ll pound you into the ground and pull out your pretty blue eyes, so then it won’t be so difficult to blast you in oblivion!” Mara grumbled. Luke ran his hand through his graying fair hair and looked away. Trust Mara to leave the name to him. There had only been a few people of great importance throughout his life, and few of them were male role models he wanted for his baby son. Anakin was the name of his nephew, and he wouldn’t think of the name Obi-wan. Mara and he had discussed this before, not wanting their son to be burdened with the name of a great Jedi. They didn’t want him to feel obligated to be a Jedi if he didn’t want to be. And he faced certain death if he even thought of the name of his other Jedi Master. There was only ever one father figure in his life. Grim, careworn Owen Lars, his Uncle. Luke sighed, Owen must have cared about him deeply, even if he had been harsh, he had done it all for Luke. In the end he and Beru had died for him. Master Skywalker lowered his eyes, remembering how simple life was before he had encountered a golden protocol droid and a squat astromech droid. Before he knew the truth about the one man he idolized, his father--- ------------------------------------Thirty-eight years earlier----------------------------------- Owen Lars was a lucky man in his opinion. In perhaps outside opinions he was unlucky, a moisture farmer on a desert world that was known as ‘the armpit of the galaxy.’ How could that man be lucky? But Owen could say he was, Tatooine was hot, dusty and dangerous, but he had always loved hard work, and he was married to the most beautiful woman on Tatooine, Beru Whitesun-Lars. He tossed the hydro-spanner back into the tool box and slid out from under the speeder, a beautiful face was waiting for him, smiling at him quintessentially, her eyes bright. “Hey,” she said brightly, handing him a cloth. Owen got to his feet as he wiped his hands and kissed Beru’s head quickly, her blonde hair was loosely braided and she looked saddened. Owen looked expectantly at her, Beru shook her head. “No,” she said softly, Owen’s face fell at her unhappiness and he drew her too him and she lent her head against his broad chest. “It’s alright, we won’t give up hope darling.” He pulled her back, “we still have Luke huh?” Owen tried to comfort her. Beru nodded and turned away, “I know, and I love him so much. But I would love another baby to look after, a little cousin for Luke, our baby,” she bit her lip, forcing back the tears that threatened to pour down her face. She folded her arms over her rough woven clothing, Owen came from behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist, resting his head on her shoulder. “Where is Luke? Usually he follows me around like a orphan Bantha cub, he’s so machine crazy, I usually have to give him a dollar to go play in his room and leave me be for a few minutes,” Owen commented, Beru turned her head to gaze at him. “He’s like his father,” she murmured. Lars grunted and let go of her, tossing the cloth away, “yes, more then I’d like him to be. Especially with that damn Kenobi sniffing around,” he marched out of the garage, Beru followed him at a quick pace. “Whether you like it or not Owen Lars, Ben Kenobi has saved Luke’s life many times.” She pointed out, Owen spun around. “Yeah? What else did he do Beru? He’s the reason Luke doesn’t have a father or a mother…his wife, poor sweet thing. And Luke’s father—Shmi’s own son! ” he shook his head, “I can’t believe he would become such a monster when she had loved him so much.” Beru put her hand on his arm, “I know. Children always suffer for the mistakes of their parents…“ She was interrupted when a flash of blonde hair and blue eyes flung himself against her, wrapping his arms around her waist. “Auntie Beru, Auntie Beru!” The little mite squealed in excitement, Beru looked down at her adopted nephew, he raised his blue eyes to her own and he smiled brightly, his arms tightly around her. Suns of Tatooine, how she loved this child, but everyone who came into contact with her little boy felt the same way, he gave his affections so easily. “Luke Skywalker. How many times have I told you not to run around like that, you could slip and fall!” Beru scolded, the six-year-old looked up at her careworn face and gave her a mostly toothless grin, showing off the dimples in his cheeks and very cleft chin, he had his father’s smile. “But I have something exciting to tell you Auntie Beru,” he grabbed his Uncle’s hand and tugged on it, “you too Uncle Owen,” Luke amended with another bright smile. Old Cliegg Lars came down the stairs, slightly limping on his prosthetic leg, his face pale. “Come and see what the child’s done, I’ve never seen such a thing,” he ordered his son and daughter-in-law, they looked at each other, then down at their grinning nephew. “C’mon Auntie Beru and Uncle Owen,” he tugged on both of their hands, they obligingly allowed themselves to be led up the stairs, Cliegg leading the way, Owen followed his wife and adopted child into Luke’s bedroom. “Sit,” Luke ordered. They all sat down on the bed, except for Luke who rushed over to a mess of flimsy and drawing tools, and Cliegg, who stood in the door frame. Luke pulled out a piece of flimsy and carried it proudly to his Aunt and Uncle. Owen looked down at the picture, it was a beautiful drawing for a six-year-old, Luke had great talent but it was unnatural talent for it was his father’s damnable Force power he had inherited. But the boy was proud of himself so Owen decided to see what was so great about the picture. The figure had no face, which was errie and unnerving, the background was a watercolour backwash of blue sky and desert, the figure was sketched colour pencil against it. Though he had no face the figure was obviously masculine, and dressed in dark clothing. The worse thing was that he carried some sort of strange, glowing sword. Luke was beaming from ear-to-ear, “see! That’s my Daddy!” He announced proudly, Beru put the back of her hand over her mouth, Owen looked over at his father, who shrugged bemused. “Your father was a navigator on a spice-freighter Luke. Why does he have a sword?” Owen managed to keep his voice calm, though inwardly he was cursing, had Kenobi worked out some way of visiting Luke behind his back? The beautiful, blonde haired boy, cocked his head to the side, “I know, but he had a sword! They told me,” Luke insisted, he rushed back over to his desk, “look! I drew some of him and my Mama,” he toddled back and showed the pictures. Again the figure had no face and he was joined by an even fuzzier picture of a feminine shape with dark-brown hair. Owen took in a deep breath, “Luke. Give me all of the pictures,” he ordered, Luke looked confused but obediently took all of his drawings and handed them into the tanned hands of his Uncle. “Beru. Dad. Would you leave us for a moment?” Beru was about to object, but Cliegg limped over and helped her to her feet, as they were leaving Beru looked over her shoulder at Luke anxiously before her father-in-law led her away. Without demur, Owen carefully started tearing up the flimsies, Luke cried out in protest, “Uncle Owen! What are you doing! No!” Luke howled, tears streaming down his face. His Uncle tossed them aside, he pointed his finger at his nephew. “I don’t want you drawing ever again. Unless it’s school work,” he waggled his finger in the crying, cherub like face, “and don’t listen to voices in your head. It’s the first sign of madness when you start hearing voices. Do you want to be like crazy old Ben Kenobi?” He got to his feet and was about to leave, when he heard a low growl. “I hate you.” Owen turned around, trying to keep shock off of his broad features, Luke’s head was bowed and his mop of blonde hair was covering his face. The tiny hands were clenched into fists and held tightly against the too big, white farm-boy clothing Luke wore. “What did you say?” The blonde haired head raised, and the expression on that tiny face had a set to his jaw, that was so much like his father’s stony glare when he had brought home his mother’s body, Owen took a step back. “I said I hate you!” Luke yelled, he picked up a remnant of flimsy and pointed to the figure that had been on the picture he first showed his Uncle. “Your not my Daddy, that’s my real Daddy, and you say he’s dead but he’s alive, and one day he’s going to come for me and we’re going to got pilot starships together…“ Owen closed his eyes in pain, “please. Don’t say that, your father is dead,” he half-whispered, he and Beru had worked so hard to keep him unnoticed from the Imperials, Luke’s blue eyes blazed. “I won’t! I won’t! You’re a bad Uncle! My Daddy is alive!” Luke could be so sweet one second, then his hidden temper would rear it’s head, Owen raised his hand, then suddenly he couldn’t move his hand at all. Luke’s face suddenly fell, “don’t hit me Uncle Owen, I’m sorry,” he apologized, Owen nodded his head quickly. “I won’t hit you Luke, just stop wishing that I won’t,” that was the easy way around, rather then telling Luke that his telepathic abilities were subconsciously preventing Owen from moving. Luke nodded his head and looked down at his feet, “okay,” almost as soon as the words fell out of the child’s mouth, Owen could move again. He didn’t say anything to his nephew, he just turned on his heal and walked towards the door. “I’m really sorry Uncle Owen,” Luke called in a subdued voice, Owen didn’t turn around when he stopped, but his broad shoulders moved as he sighed. “I known you are Luke. But I want every bit of that flimsy picked up and put in the waste-disposal, and then put on your pajama’s and go straight to bed. You are not to eat tonight,” Owen strolled down the stairs. Luke looked around at the scattered papers and got down on his hands and knees as he set about picking up all of them. Once he had placed them all in the waste-disposal, he pulled on his pajama’s and crawled into his bed. It seemed like hours before Luke heard a soft voice, “Luke sweetie, are you awake?” The six-year-old raised his head off the pillow and looked at his Aunt Beru, who was holding a tray with food and a cup of Bantha blue-milk, Luke sat up and rubbed his eyes, “yes,” he answered. Beru gracefully placed the tray of food on Luke’s lap and sat on the end of his bed, she pulled the sheets straight as her nephew ate his food, she reached over and stroked the blonde hair. Luke’s cheeks were tinged with red and Beru felt his forehead, but he was perfectly cool. She wondered how long it would be like this, Beru knew it was just the start. As Luke grew older he and Owen would fight more, she knew Luke’s destiny was outside of Tatooine, and her husband would fight it as much as possible. But when little Skywalker was old enough he would break free, and Beru wasn’t sure she wanted to go along with what her husband thought, or give Luke his freedom . Luke smiled up at her, “I’m done Auntie Beru,” he affirmed, Beru chuckled and hugged him tightly, she picked up the tray, “don’t go yet.” Luke pleaded softly. Beru placed the tray on the bedside table and patted the boy’s knee, “I won’t.” She hesitated and decided to mend the argument between Owen and Luke, “you know you Uncle doesn’t mean to be cruel—“ Luke placed his hands neatly on the sheets that covered his little lap, “I know. But he was still mean,” he pouted, “Auntie Beru, will you tell me a story about my Daddy?” The blonde haired woman hesitated, “Luke…I don’t know very many, I’m sorry,” she kissed his forehead and got to her bare feet gently, “you get some sleep sweet one, good dreams be yours and happy thoughts all your days.” Luke nodded, “good dreams, Auntie Beru,” he snuggled down and closed his eyes as soon as his head hit the pillow. Beru stroked the beautiful blonde hair once more before she slipped out of the door, with one last look at the child she had been blessed with raising, before she left. * When Beru was sound asleep, Owen crept out of the bed they shared, he padded quietly out of the room on the bottom floor and into the courtyard, before ascending the stairs that led to Luke’s small room. When the boy was a little older he would need a bigger room, but for now it was perfect for the blonde haired nymph. Owen strolled into the dimly lit room, the night-glow-lamp next to Luke’s bed was throwing delicate beams of light onto the sleeping child, Owen knelt down next to the bed and placed his hand gently against Luke’s face. Suns, he loved the boy, but it was always the faces of Anakin and his petite wife that stared at him from within the innocent features of his nephew, as Luke grew older it would be even more painfully obvious. Children always suffer for the mistakes of the parents. Beru had said that to him earlier. He prayed Luke wouldn’t have to burden the mistakes of his father. But what had Kenobi been prattling about? That Luke would be the one to redeem his father from the darkside, it was his destiny. Owen scowled, destiny. Always this blasted obsession with destiny. If Kenobi had it his way he’d send Luke right now with his father’s lightsaber in his tiny hand to fight that dark monster. As if that blasted Vader could ever be redeemed. But sooner or later Luke would want to go out into the world, and with the very uncommon surname of Skywalker, (Kenobi knew this, blast him.) Luke wouldn’t be able to go far out of that old Jedi’s sight with him knowing, that why even Luke’s poor mother had wanted her son raised under the name Skywalker. The woman had wanted him to save her ‘Ani.’ Owen shook his head, no, he would hide Luke from whatever the galaxy wanted with him, whether it would save a few lives here and there he didn’t care. All he cared about was that this precious child wouldn’t suffer, his child wouldn’t suffer. For as much as Kenobi wished it were no so, he had placed Luke in the arms of Beru and himself and trusted them with bringing him up safely and right. And that made Luke their child, it didn’t matter about who his parents were, he was theirs. Owen smiled in satisfaction, Luke was too loyal and devoted to his Aunt and himself, he would never do anything they told him not too. But a tagging voice attacked him in his head, saying that Luke wasn’t docile. He was ever bit as stubborn as his parents. The moisture farmer wouldn’t hear of it however. He would curb that stubbornness, if it was to keep his adopted son safe, he would lay down the law. Owen left the small room with a smile of relief across his tanned features, as long as he was alive that boy would not be leaving Tatooine, or seeing that Ben Kenobi, ever again. * Luke turned over in his sleep, murmuring, “no, that can’t be true, that’s impossible, no,” he moaned, the clenched fist that had been resting against the pillow suddenly opened and a small piece of torn flimsy fell out. It floated ever so slowly to the floor, coming to rest on the sandy ground painted side up, in the dim glow you could just see the outline of a black clothed young man, with a glowing green sword. ----------------------------------------- Please review. I will post the next part as soon as I can. Also, I’ve hidden an inside joke somewhere in this story and the first person that can tell me what it is when you post, I’ll dedicate the next part just for you, anonymous or signed. I’ll be nice and give you a clue: It’s something Alec Guinness mentioned giving Mark Hamill on the set of the original Star Wars. I’ve purposely changed the name to fit in with this funny piece of information. So go back and scan this first part before posting your review, and I’ll let you know who won, or what the answer is, on the next part. -----signature----- Master to TheOnlyJediPrincess and scarlet_shiv. Bar-Wench of the SAFFiest place on earth, The Meanders Inn Revolution of Fate: SOON! "The Beatles saved the world from boredom."- George Harrison. DB movie April 8th 2009!
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Knight_Aragorn Registered: Jun '03	Date Posted: 3/6/05 5:38pm Subject: RE: The love of a father. NJO era. Mara/Luke. Flashbacks to before ANH and NJO.
	Well, I have no idea about the inside joke, but I liked the story. I liked the way that you wrote Owen especially, struggling between his love for Luke and his fears about his heritage. Well done! I'll look forward to reading the next part. -----signature----- Time is an illusion. Lunchtime doubly so. Pieces of Air (ESB short story, complete) - http://boards.theforce.net/the_saga/b10476/27283200/p1
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Aiel Registered: Oct '04	Date Posted: 3/7/05 6:31pm Subject: RE: The love of a father. NJO era. Mara/Luke. Flashbacks to before ANH and NJO. - Date Edited: 11/18/07 10:34am (5 edits total) Edited By: Aiel
	Author replies: knight_Aragorn Well, I have no idea about the inside joke, but I liked the story. I liked the way that you wrote Owen especially, struggling between his love for Luke and his fears about his heritage. Well done! I'll look forward to reading the next part. Dats alright, KA, you were the only one who posted so you get this dedicated to you. The answer was a dollar, because Mark Hamill used to follow Alec every where in adoration and awe. So Alec offered him a dollar to get lost. Dedicated to knight_Aragorn. For being the only one who cared to give me some feedback. --------------------------------- DISCLAIMER: All preceding characters are the property of Lucasfilm and I am, in no way, claiming ownership by creating a story about them. It’s just an itch I have to scratch every now and then. ---------------------------------- The love of a father. Part two: By Aiel. ---------------------------------- -- 13 years earlier-- Mara Jade was not happy being back on Yavin 4. Not that she hated the place, no, the temples were lovely, the Jedi students were charming and the atmosphere was usually buzzing and productive. But like all good institutions, when it’s leader was depressed, and trying to mask it by keeping themselves away from their students, a common unhappiness hung around the students, teachers and the place in general. And this was not helped by the fact that the students and teacher’s were Jedi, and the bigger problem was their respected leader, and possibly the most powerful Jedi ever to live, was Master Luke Skywalker. So the depression flowed into the Force and the students weren’t the only ones feeling it, Mara could feel it seeping into her bones as she walked along the stone halls of the Jedi Academy. Blasted Skywalker, he frustrated her more then any other person she had known in her life. Ever since Mara had first laid eyes on him in Jabba’s palace, (in that huge hologram his pet R2 unit had projected.) She should have realized what a problem Luke Skywalker was going to be in her life and run as fast as she could, dancing costume and all, into the Dune sea of Tatooine. Death under twin suns would have been easier then becoming friends with some one who burned brighter then both of Tatooine’s suns combined. Friends. Four years prior to that Mara, if she had allowed herself to get as close as she was planning to do with Skywalker right now, would have used the opportunity to rip the Jedi’s throat out without any hesitation. But now they had an uneasy friendship, Mara dropped in occasionally for tuition from Luke, but very rarely. Mostly she dropped it for advice from the powerful Jedi Master, which he gave her without hesitation, never sensing anything more then friendship from the strong, futile, red-haired woman. Of course he wouldn’t, Jade thought as her green eyes narrowed aggravatedly. Instead he went for that insipid, ghost Jedi woman who was inhabiting one of the body’s of his ex-students, now look what she had done to him. Left him because his Force powers were frustrating her, because she had lost her own. How could you do that to someone you supposedly loved? Disown them just because they have abilities that they have no control over if they want them or not. It’s not exactly like Luke could just turn them off to make her happy. Mara wouldn’t do that, she knew what it was like to be abandoned, she had felt like that when the Emperor had left her, even though now she was glad he was gone. What was wrong with Skywalker? Four years she had been under Luke’s blue- eyed gaze and he never made a move. Damn it, what was she thinking? Luke Skywalker? Hero of the galaxy, the New Republic’s golden haired boy, beloved leader of the Jedi knighthood and adored by every freedom-loving person, the very idea he would fall in love with her. But why was it such a far out idea? She knew she was beautiful, the Emperor had exploited it and even Talon Karrade had to a point of her being almost a trophy, and Luke had told her so, many times, and he never lied. Most men would be frightened of a woman as strong as herself, especially one as gentle and kind as Luke, but his sister Leia was every bit as strong as Mara and surely Luke knew she wasn’t always harsh, no-one was always cruel. Mara had tried often to show him she had a tender side, she like the Solo children immensely, especially little Anakin Solo, and it must have been obvious to everyone, except for one blue-eyed Jedi Master, that she liked Luke Skywalker. Why else would she play games with the Solo children and let them wreath their way around her heart? Mara was not renowned for being the motherly type and even Leia Organa-Solo had started to cast tender eyes between Luke and Mara, but had said nothing. Luke and Leia weren’t as close as most brother and sisters were, especially for being twins. But that was because they hadn’t grown-up together. Leia’s husband was not clueless either, and he admired Mara, but decided it was none of his business. But Han Solo hadn’t liked Callista and avoided most conversations with her. Luke had been hurt by that, but hadn’t realized it was because Solo was trying to give Luke a clue by avoiding the brunette. But never had he mentioned to Luke a certain redhead he should be dating instead either. Mara had met Callista, but she had not thought much of the woman, still seeing poor Cray in the features that were slowly changing. She didn’t trust her. And the fact Luke was in adoration of the woman who was, (in truth.) Old enough to be his mother and literally dead, made Mara want to grab Master Skywalker, kiss him hard and ask him why he felt something for a dead woman and nothing for her. She had tried for Luke’s sake to like Callista, but Mara knew she wouldn’t last long, this turn of events had come as no surprise. But a depressed Luke Skywalker was not good for the galaxy. So on advice from Talon, who had been talking with Han a few days earlier, she had set out for the Jedi Academy. Now she stood outside of Luke’s office door and could sense his melancholy stronger then ever, could she face him without emotion in this time of despair? Or would they both fall into a trap because she loved him so much and he was lonely? No, she wasn’t going to let Luke see her true feelings. She wanted him to fall in love with her, not just love her out of sympathy, Mara knocked on the door and waited. *** There was someone knocking on his office door, but Luke was feeling terrible and he decided to ignore it for the moment. He looked at the bottle opposite him, the glow from the planet Yavin was shining through the glass, making it sparkle. The empty bottle of liquor he had finished off last night was still resting on his desk, standing next to the two he had consumed the night before, and the four he had the night before that. Oh well, at least the pain was lessening if the amount was decreasing. Luke wasn’t a good drinker. He was the first to admit that, and usually he avoided it, his experiences when he was younger had taught him that. Like after he destroyed the first Death-Star. He had been forced so many drinks that would overload even the most seasoned of drinkers, certainly an eighteen year old Farmboy who had, up to that point, only gotten drunk on his eighteenth with friends. At first he couldn’t refuse the kindly strangers, who all wanted to buy a drink for the hero of the Rebellion, later he just took them like he had earned them. The rest of the night was a blur, he though Han might have tried to rescue him by placing him in the lounge of the Millennium Falcon. But Wedge and some other Rebel’s admitted to a scowling Princess Leia the next day, that they had found Luke passed out in the Falcon while Han and Chewbacca were sleeping in the bunks. They had woken up the groaning teenage hero and had sneaked him out. Skywalker hadn’t been much fun and had continually passed out as they propped him up on a chair, in a makeshift booth, and tried to get him to tell the story again of how he managed to blow up the Death-Star without using his nav-computer. Luke would start telling the story. Then he would either faint, throw-up, or he would start talking about plot episodes from Space Smugglers,(that he had watched on the holo-vision when he was younger.) And combine them with what had happened to him over the past two days. Then as far as Luke remembered he had woken up in the bunk of one of the young Rebel women. Awakening to the sound of groaning and pain filled cries of the woman he was sharing the bunk with, combined the snoring and other moans of about five other men and women, who were lying around on the floor of the women's quarters. That hadn’t been the half of it. Han had alerted Leia to the fact that he had had Luke safely in the Falcon’s lounge, safely away from the party, but he’d disappeared. So Leia had gone looking for Luke and had somehow guessed he was in the women’s quarters. She had stepped over the other bodies lying on the floor and had looked under one of the top bunks to see the young, innocent looking hero of the Rebellion, in the bottom bunk with two female Rebel personals draped over him. All of them not wearing the clothes that were bundled at the foot of the bunk and snoring loudly underneath a plain white sheet. “Ahem!” Leia had cleared her throat loudly, embarrassed and unamused. Luke had woken up with a start and one of the women fell off him and landed on the floor, causing all of the collective groans of pain from the loud noise. Luke had looked bleary eyed at her, “Princess Leia? Your highness, I…” he looked over at the two women, one lying next to him and the other glaring up at him from the floor as she grabbed a blanket to pull over herself. Luke blushed, “how did I get here?” At this time he had no idea Leia was his sister and he felt now he had no chance of the sublime, petite Princess falling in love with him. Eventually Leia had forgiven him because it was really Wedge and the other Rebel’s fault he had been wondering around while he was drunk, and Luke couldn’t even remember chatting up the women, let alone sleeping with them. After that, Luke had always been careful with alcohol, but now he found that it numbed the pain he felt after Callista had said that she never wanted to see him again. It hurt so much. The loud knocking on the door that had woken him up was becoming insistent, Luke groaned, “go away.” The door slid open anyway before Luke could remember he hadn’t locked it, and a distinctly feminine voice flooded his office, “the polite thing would be to ask please.” Luke raised his head off of his desk and looked up at the red-haired beauty through red rimmed eyes, “Mara? What are you doing here?” He asked. The jade-eyed woman was physically striking, she hadn’t changed much from the first time he’d seen her, long-legged and slender, with the most beautiful hair in the galaxy. Mara Jade strolled over and sat in one of the chairs opposite him on the other-side of his wooden desk, she casually slumped in it and regarded him coolly, “Han called up Talon and told him what happened with Callista. And then Talon called me and suggested I come and see you.” Mara sighed. “So hi, here I am. I’ve seen you, and you look like a bag poodo tied around the middle. Now what?” She informed him without civility. Luke chucked in spite of himself, “Ah Mara. How come you’re the only one that makes me feel better whenever I’m depressed?” He invoked with a small smile, Mara gave him a very evil smile and tossed her long plait over her shoulder. “Because I’m the only one in the galaxy that doesn’t kiss your butt,” she replied, Skywalker laughed again and leaned back on his chair with a groan, rubbing his temples. Mara reached over and picked up a bottle of liquor off the desk, she sniffed it, “Whyren’s reserve? I thought only your brother-in-law drank this stuff!” The Jedi Master closed his eyes, “I’ve heard it mentioned it numbs pain really well. Only I can’t remember if it does,” he mumbled, the red-haired woman shook her head, Skywalker opened one eye, “don’t shake you head at me, Mara Jade.” Mara leaned over the desk and grabbed Luke shirt-front, the black fabric clenched tightly in her pale hands. “If you can use those damn Force powers to see one woman shaking her head at you with your eyes closed, why don’t you use them to see reason?” She demanded. Luke turned away from her, but Mara pulled one of her hands off his shirt and used it to grab his cheeks and make him face her. “So Callista left you, big deal, Skywalker. She left you. You didn’t drive her away, and it’s her loss I suppose, in some way, but she’s not the only woman in the universe and you better start getting over her. Because you're making every single person within five parsecs of you depressed,” Mara let go of him. Luke pulled back as Mara sat back in her chair, she crossed her green-tighted legs and folded her arms over her green tunic, he regarded her sulkily, “I know, but Callista was something special to me.” He mumbled, “and I did drive her away.” Mara threw her hands up in the air, “oh no, not the poor me act again! You didn’t drive…“ Luke got to his feet and interrupted the startled, former Emperor’s hand. “Yes I did. I driven away just about everyone one I’ve ever loved, Gaeriel, Tash, Callista, they were all frightened of my Force abilities, that what drove them away, they all had to give me up,” he looked down at his hands and Mara pursed her lips. “Even my own mother had to give me up, Mara. My ability with Force has caused me nothing but pain,” Luke collapsed on the floor next to her chair, Jade got up and knelt next to him, he looked up at her with tear-filled blue eyes. “Am I doomed to walk this life as a Jedi, unloved and never knowing what it’s like to hold a woman who loves me for me? Who knows what it’s like to be burdened with something that makes you different? Something which people rely on you so much for—something you couldn’t give up if you want to?” Mara put her hand on his shoulder as Luke wiped his eyes, “c’mon Skywalker, I think you need a change of atmosphere, get to your feet solider,” she encouraged, helping the lithe warrior to his feet. Mara took his hand and pressed the door panel with her spare right hand. She half-dragged him out into the stone walled hall, Luke walked along at her side in silence for a while, their boot heals clicking along the stone floor in unison. The various paintings and holographs that now dotted the halls brightened up the otherwise plain atmosphere, Wedge Antilles was an unlikely donor of most of the paintings of the early Rebellion pictures. The favorite of the temple, and the envy of the prestigious art museums of the galaxy, was of the beautiful ceremony after the Death-Star, simply entitled: Heroes of the Rebellion. Wedge Antilles admitted having sketched it during the actual ceremony and mentioned it in passing to Mon Mothma, who had not been present, when she had arrived to congratulate and meet Luke Skywalker, Han Solo and Chewbacca. Delighted, she had a copy of a holo-recording of the ceremony delivered to him, plus she formally invited Leia, Luke, Han and Chewie to sit for Wedge. They all accepted and even brought the droids, Janna Donna and the other people who had been present on the podium during the ceremony. The painting had been completed just before the Imperials arrived, Wedge had hidden the painting in a secret compartment he, Luke and Hobbie had quickly carved behind one of the walls in their quarters, while they were waiting to leave. It was invisible to the naked eye, and sealed so carefully that you need a magnifier to see where the carving had been done, Wedge had unhappily put the rest of his art supplies with them. Vowing not to draw again till he could come back to once the Empire had been disposed of. They had lain there until Luke had been tossing up whether to open his Jedi Academy on Yavin 4, and during his inspection had remembered what Wedge had done. He had called up General Antilles, and the rest of Rogue squadron had come along to see what the fuss was about. While it was being opened by Luke and Hobbie, Wedge stood uncomfortably to the side as Janson made jokes about the paintings being of shaven Ewoks. When the painting and other brief sketches were revealed, everyone gapped and Wes Janson had whistled in amazement, making Wedge blush and mumble something indescribable, except it might have been: ”Yeah. And I gave it up to lead you clowns.” The painting was the source of amazement, “Leia and Mon Mothma are going to flip when they hear of this, all of the holographs and holo-recordings of the event were destroyed. Everyone will want to see it, it should be in an art museum on Coruscant,” Luke touched the oil painting gently, Wedge nodded. “It should,” he slapped his hand on Luke’s shoulder, “but I’m giving it to you Luke.” Luke’s eyes had widened, “Wedge! Oh no. You can’t give me this, you can’t…no, I won’t let you,” he frowned, Antillies shook his head, his brown eyes serious. “In that case, I’m not giving it to you Luke, I’m giving it to the temple of Yavin and to the memory of what you, Leia, Han and Chewie done for all of us, and for the people who should have been there at that ceremony, but weren’t.” He lifted up the huge painting with a grunt, “and if your intending to have your Jedi Academy here, it’s going to uglify up the walls with a whole lot of other sketches I did before you, Han and Chewie, dragged you life-saving carcasses into here. And maybe a couple I’ve been working on in private. “Janson?” Wedge’s second in command mock saluted, “yes, oh wise and brave, and just, and holy, and glorious, respected and toothsome General?” He teased. “Some traveling music please, and would ya give me a hand Tycho,” Wedge intoned. Janson started pretending to play a Jazz-horn and Hobbie pretended to be drums, they all marched out and Luke followed them confusedly, with a bemused smile on his face as he trailed his old flight team. They wondered up and down the halls, until Wedge suddenly stopped abruptly and Tycho nearly rammed in him, the dark haired man pointed to a clear wall, “that one.” He pulled of the sealant off the back of the painting, “Luke. Will you do the honors.” Luke raised his hand slowly and the picture rose gently up into the air, “oooh!” The pilot’s all chorused, Skywalker promptly poked his tongue out at them and used the Force to gently adhere the painting to the wall. They all clapped and cheered. Wedge put his arm around his friend’s shoulders, “now, once I get the other pictures up it will look half decent. You see Luke, I don’t want a whole bunch of snobs glaring at this picture in particular and saying, ‘oh, how lovely, look at the paint strokes on General Solo’s nose, so realistic.’ “ He shook his head. “No, I want a whole bunch of kid’s too look up at you guys and be inspired. In particular I want Han and Leia’s kids, and yours eventually too I hope, to be able to come here with Chewie’s son and be proud of their family.” Wedge grinned, Janson punched his squadron leader’s arm, ruining the somber moment. “How about your kid’s Wedge? Are you going to let them borrow it off of Luke so they can take it in to school for show and tell and say: ‘My daddy’s Wedge Antillies. But I didn’t bring in any of his famous piloting memorabilia, oh no. I brought in incriminating evidence of his secret life as a painter!’ “ He roared with laughter and Wedge promptly wrestled him to the ground. The brawl eventually ended with a trademark black-eye for Janson, that he seemed to sport on a regular occasion, and a fat lip for Wedge. Luke had ended up with a broken nose when he had tried to mediate between the two, that had come when he commented that Wedge and Janson fought like a couple of school girls. True to his word, however, Wedge had flooded the temple with dedicated pictures of the early days of the Rebellion and some he had done just recently. Like the highly prized Despair that he had done from the memory of Luke and Leia when he had caught them looking out of the window when he came to visit Luke after his surgery. And Victory embrace from the celebrations on Endor from a holograph. Some he allowed Luke to give to exhibitions that art museums had begged Luke to allow them to show for at least a week after visiting the temple, or hearing how Wedge only ever gave him the paintings. But no amount of coaxing would get Luke to exhibit the priceless Heroes of the Rebellion painting. People outside of the teachers, students and close friends and family had to wait until the Jedi Academy opened it’s doors for special events. Luke suddenly spoke up as Mara gazed at the picture, “do you know, I was so certain I was going to marry Callista and have children with her,” he commented vaguely, Mara turned to him surprised. “Did you have a vision?” She tried to keep the surprise out of her voice as they moved along, Luke shook his head as they walked along. “No, it’s just that at this point in my life I just always imagined being married, with a couple of little Skywalker’s running around, and I really thought Callista might have been the one.” He and Mara stopped in front of a painting of Han and Leia at their wedding. Han and Leia had a replica but this was the original and not done by Wedge, it had been done by Luke, he wondered if Mara knew, not many people knew he painted, after been banned from it as a child, Luke found it soothing. But rarely had time anymore to do much of it. “The one what?” Mara joked, Skywalker gave her a short smile. “There was an old wise woman on Dathomir, during the time Han kidnapped Leia before he married her, and I visited her. She looked up at me and said: ‘Why, if it isn’t Master Skywalker who established the Jedi Academy all those years ago, how are your wife and children,’ “ he laughed, “I said they were fine.” Mara turned away, “you really want children, huh?” She commented, Luke nodded his head and lowered his eyes. “I always have. With every girl I met. With Gaeri I imagined children mismatched eyes, with Tash I imagined daughters with blonde hair, with Callista I saw bright smiling sons and daughters. Always little Jedi though,” he turned back to the Han and Leia portrait. “I’m not like Leia, I knew if I ever married someone she would be a Jedi.” Mara strolled along to the next picture, a moving hologram of the Solo children, staring at it absentmindedly, “another vision?” Luke shook his head as he sided up next to her, “more like a gut-feeling,” he amended, “I remember talking with Leia, when we were on Bakura just after Endor, about children and her continuing the Skywalker legacy. Leia was repulsed. She really didn’t want children, even after she married Han, because she was afraid that one day they would turn out like our father.” He looked up at the moving hologram of the Solo children, the twins were pulling faces and Anakin was trying to imitate them, they were playing in a flower filled valley. The picture had been taken while Han and Leia had been on a diplomatic mission, so the children were dressed formally, but Anakin had found a big hat somewhere and was wearing it with a big grin on his face. Jacen’s hair was filled with grass and leaves, and Jaina’s pink hat was pulled down over her eyes as she played with a pet Ynog of the host family they were staying with. “Han managed to change her mind and look at them. They’re beautiful. And through Han and Leia I finally had a family. Do you know what that’s like to a kid who grows up all by himself with an Uncle and a couple of Aunt’s on a desert world?” Mara nodded, “I know how you feel, more so. I never had anyone but the Emperor,” she touched the moving hologram with one of her long fingered hands, one of the nails was broken, not like Callista’s that were always perfectly filled. But that just seemed to make the hand more graceful to Luke’s eyes. There was no denying Mara Jade was beautiful and charismatic, but she was also deadly and Luke never knew where he stood with her, but she was a good friend. “I was never afraid to have children. Even after I knew who my father was, I always wanted to know what it was like to have a child to raise, that was the production of true love,” Luke chuckled, “I’m a hopeless romantic, huh?” Mara shook her head and turned to face him, “no, your not,” she strolled through one of the doors and into the old hanger, where shuttles and Luke’s old X-wing were the only occupants besides the Jade Fire. “I believe everyone wants the same thing.” Luke raised his fair eyebrows as they sat down on one of the old transporters from the old days of the Rebellion, “even you?” He asked, Mara started picking at the peeling yellow paint on the metal frame. “Yeah, even me Skywalker,” she looked at him with her intent green eyes, “do you find that so hard to believe?” Some of Mara’s old defensiveness reared it’s head. Master Skywalker shook his head and looked out at the relatively empty hanger, “no, I don’t.” He took her hands, “you’re a remarkable woman, Mara, and you never cease to surprise me,” Luke smiled at her. Mara returned the smile in spite of herself, “How about I take you to some obscure planet for a drink, Skywalker? My treat?” His blue eyes lit up, “sure, as long as they serve hot chocolate, I don’t think I’ll be able to digest alcohol for a while,” Luke managed to get another smile out of Mara and even a half-laugh, she tossed her red plait over her shoulder again. “Alright, let’s get going, we’ll take the Fire,” she got to her feet with all the grace of a wildcat and Luke followed her, they were half way to the beautiful ship when a voice stopped them. “Master Skywalker, Master Skywalker,” it was Kyp Durran, his youthful face red from running, he jogged up to them, panting, but he used the Force to compose himself as Luke placed a reassuring hand on his arm. “Tionne just got a call from Princess Leia, her and Han are on their way here to pick you up on the Falcon along with the kid’s. She said she thought you might appreciate a nice family dinner with them.” He informed him, Luke turned to Mara. Kyp looked between them, “shall I tell her you had other plans?” Mara shook her head, “no, it’s alright Kyp,” she assured him, Luke took her hand. “Come with me, you're practically family. I’m sure Leia won’t mind, it will be fun, the kids adore you,” he encouraged, Jade shook her head. “No, it’s alright. I have some other work to attend, we can get that drink another time, okay?” She forced her voice even, Luke smiled and embraced her. “It’s a date Mara Jade,” he pulled back. Mara looked slightly up into his eyes, ask me to come again Luke, for the love of the Force, ask me again, I promise I’ll say yes she silently pleaded in her mind. For a moment it looked like Luke had read her mind, he opened his mouth, then closed it and sighed, “I hope you have a safe journey.” He farewelled. Mara smiled softly at him, “you too, Luke,” she added softly, Luke smiled surprised down at her. Kiss me, Mara pleaded in her mind, don’t leave me again, Mara held in her breath as Luke leaned over, and brushed his lips against her cheek. “I’ll see you again, alright,” Master Skywalker still held her arms, Mara blushed and looked away, pulling away roughly to hide her embarrassment. “If I see you, I see you Skywalker,” she growled, Luke gapped after the fiery beauty as she moved her perfect form away from him as fast as she could. Kyp looked between the running ex-assassin and the Jedi leader with a raised eye-brow. “I did interrupt something, didn’t I?” He half-muttered, Luke looked surprised at the dark-haired young man. “I don’t know,” he looked over at the Jade Fire that was preparing to take off, “I was sensing something from Mara, it wasn’t anger,” Luke shook his head, “I don’t know, it was there for a moment then it was gone.” He rubbed his eyes then turned to young Kyp, “you better go get Tionne to tell Leia I’ll be waiting for them.” Kyp nodded his head and went running off again, Luke turned his attention back to the Jade Fire as it was leaving. What was on your mind, Mara Jade? If it wasn’t anger towards me, was it… love? Luke came to the surprising conclusion, he was shocked. Surely not Mara Jade? The woman that had been on the arm of the most powerful men in the galaxy, even with his friend Lando Calrissian. After all the years he had known her, she couldn’t be in love with him. Could she? *** As soon as the Jade Fire shot into hyper-space, Mara Jade rested her arms against the console, put her head between them and wept. ------------------------------ A soft side to Mara, we all knew it was there people! I’ll get up the epilogue as soon as I can, but is it so much to ask for a couple of posts? They’re all appreciated, so please post and tell me what you thought. -----signature----- Master to TheOnlyJediPrincess and scarlet_shiv. Bar-Wench of the SAFFiest place on earth, The Meanders Inn Revolution of Fate: SOON! "The Beatles saved the world from boredom."- George Harrison. DB movie April 8th 2009!
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rhonderoo Title: Former Head Admin Registered: Aug '02	Date Posted: 3/7/05 7:18pm Subject: RE: The love of a father. NJO era. Mara/Luke. Flashbacks to before ANH and NJO.Part 2 is up!
	Great fic! I think Luke is a wonderful father, and you portray that very well. I love fics about Luke and Mara with a little Sr. Skywalker sprinkled in there. Looking forward to the Epilogue! -----signature----- DT421
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JEDIFLYSWATTER Registered: Dec '04	Date Posted: 3/7/05 8:47pm Subject: RE: The love of a father. NJO era. Mara/Luke. Flashbacks to before ANH and NJO.Part 2 is up!
	Lucky Luke! Had every mans fantasy. Just hope he was'nt to drunk. That can make a great time a real waste of time. Love this story. Just wish it was going to be longer and it definitely has the intense love for a PM post. Well beggers can'nt be choosey. Thanks!! -----signature----- New Orleans will rise from the ashes! You knew it was a rattlesnke when you picked it up. Kitty cats do not lie about love.
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Jedi_Liz Title: Former CR Lincoln NE, USA Registered: Apr '00	Date Posted: 11/15/07 3:32pm Subject: RE: The love of a father. NJO era. Mara/Luke. Flashbacks to before ANH and NJO.Part 2 is up!
	This was a recommended fic @ the SJRS for the Month of December. Thanks to JediTrace for unlocking it. Any chance you'll come back and finish it? -----signature----- Current Fic: Lightswords of Fury: Special Edition - L/M Romance http://boards.theforce.net/beyond_the_saga/b10477/24270936/ Chapter 19 posted on 7/21/08 Coming SOON: Mara Jade of Chandrila Grove Coming SOON to SAGA Fanfic
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Aiel Registered: Oct '04	Date Posted: 11/15/07 3:43pm Subject: RE: The love of a father. NJO era. Mara/Luke. Flashbacks to before ANH and NJO.Part 2 is up!
	<Falls over,> I thought this story had died a merry death and left me alone...omigod two years ago! Yeah, people seemingly weren't happy with it so I sort of let it go, (I used to write a lot of L/M fics,) but sure, I have the epilogue around somewhere on hard-disk, I'll post it by Sunday. -----signature----- Master to TheOnlyJediPrincess and scarlet_shiv. Bar-Wench of the SAFFiest place on earth, The Meanders Inn Revolution of Fate: SOON! "The Beatles saved the world from boredom."- George Harrison. DB movie April 8th 2009!
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Irish_Jedi_Jade Registered: Jul '07	Date Posted: 11/15/07 5:29pm Subject: RE: The love of a father. NJO era. Mara/Luke. Flashbacks to before ANH and NJO.Part 2 is up!
	COOLNESS!! Aiel, I love you! I love this story too! I'm so excited to see the ending!! Please keep writing L/M you're great dear! -----signature----- "Merry Christmas." "And a Happy go to Hell." ~House, M.D. Season 3: exactly my thoughts after the holidays working in retail. ~**~ Don't forget me...no matter what.
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Jade_eyes Registered: Aug '04	Date Posted: 11/15/07 6:35pm Subject: RE: The love of a father. NJO era. Mara/Luke. Flashbacks to before ANH and NJO.Part 2 is up!
	Wonderful!! Love Mara's POV and their conversation in part two. This definitely has mush potential. -----signature----- I dedicate every num yummy love ballad to Mara/Luke as I completely melt Insatiable mush addict ginchy & IJJ: yours especially Certified Squee! maniac
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mara_jade_rox Registered: Jun '07	Date Posted: 11/15/07 6:40pm Subject: RE: The love of a father. NJO era. Mara/Luke. Flashbacks to before ANH and NJO.Part 2 is up!
	AWESOMENESS!!! (Isn't that word so awesome?!?!?!) MJR -----signature----- What happens when everyone you love leaves? Do you waste your time grieving? Do you love others? Even when the don't love you? What happens?
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JadedSkycrawler Registered: Jul '02	Date Posted: 11/15/07 6:44pm Subject: RE: The love of a father. NJO era. Mara/Luke. Flashbacks to before ANH and NJO.Part 2 is up!
	This was too cute! I absolutely loved the flashbacks, especially the one about Luke's inability to hold his liqueur, so funny! -----signature----- "All the darkness in the world cannot extinguish the light of a single candle." -Francis of Assisi
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Irish_Jedi_Jade Registered: Jul '07	Date Posted: 12/2/07 9:38pm Subject: RE: The love of a father. NJO era. Mara/Luke. Flashbacks to before ANH and NJO.Part 2 is up!
	Hey Aiel!!! Are we going to get an ending?!?! Please!! hands Aiel's muse chocolate satin pie, banana walnut muffins, and hot cocoa! I so love your story, I'm dying for more!!! Huggles,