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Topic:
Fire and Ice (Marakin Vignettes Collection) Updated 9/10
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Lonewolf89
Registered:
Sep '01
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Date Posted:
3/6/06 1:41pm
Subject:
Fire and Ice (Marakin Vignettes Collection) Updated 9/10
- Date Edited:
9/10 3:06pm (14 edits total)
Edited By:
Lonewolf89
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Author's Note: Thanks to Thrawn McEwok for fueling the Marakin fires and for giving this a quick pre-posting read through. 
Goodnight:
"You're drifting," Mara Jade chided, shoving Anakin lightly with her shoulder.
"Long day," he replied before slouching further down on the couch.
Mara snorted in response, smirking at the young man beside her. "Passed your bedtime, little Jedi?"
The couch shook gently with silent laughter. "Sorry. It's going to take better jibing than that to get to me right now."
Crossing her arms over her chest, Mara turned back to the holovision. The images of some Old Order Jedi film flashed on screen, casting colorful shadows against the dark walls of the Skywalker living room.
"When do Han and Leia get back?"
Anakin roused slightly but still didn't bother to open his eyes. "Sometime tomorrow. Probably later, though, considering who they're dealing with."
Mara nodded. Her mind was beginning to slow, her thought growing hazy with fatigue. Sore muscles protested as she shifted on the couch and tried to find a more comfortable position. Their latest mission had been a long day of investigation that ended in a bloody and exhausting duel. Even the relaxing heat of her recent shower hadn't dulled all of the aches and pains.
"How's your shoulder?" Anakin asked, a note of concern echoing in his voice.
She rotated it slowly, wincing at the stiffness. She could have healed it quickly enough with the Force, but that seemed like a trivial use of power for something that would heal well enough on its own.
"It's fine."
The room had grown warmer and was beginning to lull her into idleness. All of the adrenaline had flushed from her system now, leaving behind a heady buzz. Anakin sat wedged between her body and the arm of the couch, acting as a human pillow. Turning away from the forgotten holo program, her eyes closed and she allowed her head to rest against the afghan behind her. She breathed deeply and forced away some of her tightly coiled tension. Beside her, she felt Anakin doing the same, their bond joining their minds for a brief moment.
Her eyes still closed, she allowed her senses to drift. They reached out around the room and through the Errant Venture, before coming back to settle on the warm presence resting beside her.
Anakin's mind was made up of the fragmented half thoughts of sleep now as he hovered close to dreaming. Squinting in the darkness of the room, she noted that his chest rose and fell rhythmically with his shallow breathing. She saw that his brown hair had grown longer and now hung over his closed eyes.
With a sleepy sigh, he shifted slightly, bending his head at an awkward angle. He was now folded up haphazardly, one leg resting beneath him and the other stretched out languorously. His arms were crossed protectively over his chest, and he had settled himself deeply inside of his brown robes, creating something like a cocoon.
She could kill him easily.
The thought drifted unbidden into her mind, a remnant of the life she once lived. But she knew it wasn't completely accurate. She had seen him fight; a deadly mixture of grace and strength, a hybrid of her style and Luke's combined with something distinctly his own.
Perhaps 'easily' wasn't the best word to use.
Curling her legs up to her chest, Mara closed her eyes once more. Relaxation was hard to come by. It always had been for her. Tension was a defense. Alertness meant survival. But, sitting here, in the dark of her living room, with the faint glow of the holovision surrounding her, she was surprised to find that it overtook her quickly. Her head lulled unconsciously to the side and slid down to rest on a warm shoulder.
"Good night, Aunt Mara," came a soft voice from the edges of sleep.
She felt the smile behind the words.
"Good night, Anakin."
-----signature-----
Nom Anor: I witnessed the death of perhaps the greatest of them all, the one called Anakin Solo.
Anakin Solo: You want me to move? Come on and move me!
Jacen: Count on Anakin to be the last Human to get out of Duro space alive.
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academygrad88
Registered:
Apr '04
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Date Posted:
3/6/06 1:50pm
Subject:
RE: Goodnight (Marakin Fic)
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Oh boy, Lonewolf, when I saw Marakin and you thanking McEwok I expected the worse. 
Very nice little fic. I am glad it didn't get too creepy. 
Great job.
AG88
-----signature-----
I love my Bomb Disposal Expert Winner of more Golden Ewoks™ than you can possibly imagine! Check out the pictures I made: http://ag88.deviantart.com/ ! You will Kriff Luke Skywalker!~ The Real last Command http://swff.bpweb.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4
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Imperial-Hippy
Registered:
Feb '06
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Date Posted:
3/6/06 1:51pm
Subject:
RE: Goodnight (Marakin Fic)
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Anakin and Mara, what hapend to Luke? And isnt he a wee bit young for her? How are they in this fic?
Still, nice going Ani lad!
Nicly written, btw
-----signature-----
"The only path to emortality is in the hearts of thoes who you love."
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RedGold
Registered:
Nov '04
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Date Posted:
3/6/06 1:57pm
Subject:
RE: Goodnight (Marakin Fic)
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Not bad at all... might not even be completely AU... but let's no go there shall we... that's McEwok's territory.
-----signature-----
Legend... Recluse... Forgotten... Will one day return... http://www.starwarsfanfic.com
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Thrawn McEwok
Title: TFN EU Staff
Registered:
May '00
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Date Posted:
3/6/06 2:01pm
Subject:
RE: Goodnight (Marakin Fic)
- Date Edited:
3/6/06 2:02pm (1 edits total)
Edited By:
Thrawn McEwok
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Lonewolf:  You posted it!  
And, it's great!
It's... everything Marakin should be, really... zero "ick" factor, a well-balanced Jedi partnership, a mutual personal frankness, and a sense of mystery, of a Galaxy beyond the four walls of the 'fic - is it just me, or are there subtle hints in there of a wider story that's not being told explicitly...  
*I needed that!* 
 
- The Imperial Ewok
-----signature-----
A/T = OTP "To write one Solo twin as an angstbunny, Master Skywalker, might be considered unfortunate. To write BOTH that way looks like carelessness."
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Eleventh_Guard
Registered:
Dec '05
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Date Posted:
3/6/06 2:17pm
Subject:
RE: Goodnight (Marakin Fic)
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Aha. Subtle, in-character, and nicely done. Good job! Is this a one-shot or will there be more?
-----signature-----
A conversation on Dathomir:
Welk: My daughter did that... I am blameless. I'm not even armed.
Jacen: And you just let her do whatever she wants?
Welk: You're new here, aren't you?
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Lonewolf89
Registered:
Sep '01
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Date Posted:
3/6/06 4:14pm
Subject:
RE: Goodnight (Marakin Fic)
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AG88: I'm glad you enjoyed it.
posted:
Oh boy, Lonewolf, when I saw Marakin and you thanking McEwok I expected the worse.
Yes, thanking TMcE usually augurs something twisted.
Imperial-Hippy:
posted:
Anakin and Mara, what hapend to Luke? And isnt he a wee bit young for her? How are they in this fic?
Luke's still there. Yes, he is young for her, and I'm leaving that one up to the reader.
posted:
Still, nice going Ani lad!
And Han thought he did well. 
RedGold: Thank you! And yes, we'll leave the canon debate for Thrawn.
Thrawn McEwok: Thanks for comments.
posted:
is it just me, or are there subtle hints in there of a wider story that's not being told explicitly...
*cue evil laugh* 
Eleventh_Guard: Thanks! Mara's a hard character for me to write, usually. It's nice to know that I didn't butcher her character.
And, I seemed to have Marakin on the brain right now, so there will be more. However, I think this will probably become more of a series of vignettes than an ongoing story.
-----signature-----
Nom Anor: I witnessed the death of perhaps the greatest of them all, the one called Anakin Solo.
Anakin Solo: You want me to move? Come on and move me!
Jacen: Count on Anakin to be the last Human to get out of Duro space alive.
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Lonewolf89
Registered:
Sep '01
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Date Posted:
3/7/06 11:39am
Subject:
RE: Fire and Ice (Marakin Fic Collection)
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Author's Note: This takes place before the Rebirth Epilogue.
Watching Over You:
"Hey."
The voice startled Mara. She looked up sharply and was surprised to find her nephew leaning against the door frame. Since when did he learn to sneak up on her?
The thought obviously echoed, because she saw a smirk tugging on Anakin's lips. "I'm tried, Solo, so I suggest you watch yourself," she warned with a glare and a half hearted attempt at menace.
Anakin raised his hands in submission as he moved further into the dimly lit recovery room. "I just came to see how you were doing."
Mara sighed, closing her eyes. "Exhausted doesn't even begin to cover it."
"I thought you were dying," Anakin admitted as he reached her bedside.
"So did I," she replied truthfully.
With the delivery over, Cilghal had insisted on at least one night in the medical ward, despite Mara's apparent good health. Luke had stayed with her for several hours, but when she noticed him nodding off in the chair beside her, she had ordered him home for a shower and a nap.
"He is beautiful." Anakin said as he cocked his head to the side and gazed down at the tiny bundle resting in his Aunt's arms. Mara watched as he traced nimble fingers across his cousin's forehead. His eyes were closed, and she felt him brush his mind against Ben's.
"He feels like you," he commented at last.
She quirked an eyebrow and gave him a questioning look. "How so?"
"He's strong," Anakin clarified as he opened his eyes. "Strong and steady. He's tiny, but his presence in the Force is already very powerful."
Mara turned her gaze to her infant son. He was still sleeping peacefully, unaware of Anakin's gentle probing. "I never wanted a child born into war," she said suddenly. The words had left her mouth before the thought had even been fully formed, but, for some reason, she felt no need to take them back.
"He'll know peace," Anakin said, still looking down at his cousin. "He may be raised in the fire, but he'll know the love of family and the depth of the Force."
"He deserves more," she replied. "More than a mother and father who could leave him orphaned in the space of a heartbeat. More than a galaxy that would willingly turn him into a human sacrifice to save their own crumbling worlds. More than I had."
Anakin's hand gripped her shoulder, and he squeezed her arm reassuringly. "He will never be an orphan," he said with a burning conviction. "And he will never be a sacrifice. He will grow up surrounded by the love of his parents, and he will never know what it's like to loose someone he loves to war."
"And how do you know?" Mara asked.
"Because, I'll be watching over him," Anakin replied, giving her a half smile that seemed to hold the shadow of something she couldn't quite place.
I'll be watching over him... and you.
For a moment, Mara saw her nephew standing alone against a dark horde, a pillar of light in a black abyss.
She reached for his hand and held it tightly in her own. "You can't try to save everyone, Anakin."
This time his smile was different, a knowing quirk that reached his eyes. "Do or do not, Aunt Mara. There is no try."
-----signature-----
Nom Anor: I witnessed the death of perhaps the greatest of them all, the one called Anakin Solo.
Anakin Solo: You want me to move? Come on and move me!
Jacen: Count on Anakin to be the last Human to get out of Duro space alive.
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Imperial-Hippy
Registered:
Feb '06
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Date Posted:
3/7/06 12:30pm
Subject:
RE: Fire and Ice (Marakin Fic Collection) Updated 3/7
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okay ur doing one of those start at the end and then build up with it thigs, right?
nicly done, though he gave up on Tahiri pritty quike didnt he?
-----signature-----
"The only path to emortality is in the hearts of thoes who you love."
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Lonewolf89
Registered:
Sep '01
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Date Posted:
3/7/06 1:26pm
Subject:
RE: Fire and Ice (Marakin Fic Collection) Updated 3/7
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Imperial-Hippy: Thanks for reading!
posted:
okay ur doing one of those start at the end and then build up with it thigs, right?
Technically, this isn't one, ongoing story. This is simply a collection of stand alone vignettes.
posted:
nicly done, though he gave up on Tahiri pritty quike didnt he?
Did he?
-----signature-----
Nom Anor: I witnessed the death of perhaps the greatest of them all, the one called Anakin Solo.
Anakin Solo: You want me to move? Come on and move me!
Jacen: Count on Anakin to be the last Human to get out of Duro space alive.
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Imperial-Hippy
Registered:
Feb '06
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Date Posted:
3/7/06 1:43pm
Subject:
RE: Fire and Ice (Marakin Vignettes Collection) Updated 3/7
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okay your confusing me now. 
 keep going though.
-----signature-----
"The only path to emortality is in the hearts of thoes who you love."
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RedGold
Registered:
Nov '04
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Date Posted:
3/7/06 2:39pm
Subject:
RE: Fire and Ice (Marakin Vignettes Collection) Updated 3/7
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That's a great addition to the story.
You're very much a tease with this, as it can go either way of the pro and anti side of the Marakin debate.
-----signature-----
Legend... Recluse... Forgotten... Will one day return... http://www.starwarsfanfic.com
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Thrawn McEwok
Title: TFN EU Staff
Registered:
May '00
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Date Posted:
3/7/06 3:19pm
Subject:
RE: Fire and Ice (Marakin Vignettes Collection) Updated 3/7
- Date Edited:
3/7/06 4:18pm (2 edits total)
Edited By:
Thrawn McEwok
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Lonewolf:
W
O
W
!!!
Full review to follow...
... but that's awesome!!
And I mean that before we even get into questions of subtext - at heart, it's just the two characters interacting, enriching the canon storyline without forcing any agendas...
Look for a WR thread pretty soon...
- The Imperial Ewok
-----signature-----
A/T = OTP "To write one Solo twin as an angstbunny, Master Skywalker, might be considered unfortunate. To write BOTH that way looks like carelessness."
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JDH3
Registered:
Mar '03
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Date Posted:
3/8/06 3:17am
Subject:
RE: Fire and Ice (Marakin Vignettes Collection) Updated 3/7
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More elaborate review when I'm feeling a little less under the weather. *coughs*
Really great viggies, Lonewolf. 
JD.
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Lonewolf89
Registered:
Sep '01
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Date Posted:
3/8/06 10:10am
Subject:
RE: Fire and Ice (Marakin Vignettes Collection) Updated 3/7
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RedGold: Thanks for reading.
posted:
You're very much a tease with this, as it can go either way of the pro and anti side of the Marakin debate.
Hehehehe.
Thrawn McEwok: Thank you. I had a lot of fun with that piece. I always felt there was something missing in the scene between Mara and Anakin right after Ben was born. So much untapped potential.
posted:
Look for a WR thread pretty soon...
I love it, Thrawn! Great work.
JDH3: I'm glad to see you over here, JD! I'd be sending some get well vibes your way.
-----signature-----
Nom Anor: I witnessed the death of perhaps the greatest of them all, the one called Anakin Solo.
Anakin Solo: You want me to move? Come on and move me!
Jacen: Count on Anakin to be the last Human to get out of Duro space alive.
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Lonewolf89
Registered:
Sep '01
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Date Posted:
3/8/06 11:33am
Subject:
RE: Fire and Ice (Marakin Vignettes Collection) Updated 3/7
- Date Edited:
3/8/06 3:50pm (2 edits total)
Edited By:
Lonewolf89
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Author's Note: Yes, another one. I think I've unleashed a monster. I was rereading SbS all the way through for the first time last night and inspiration struck. This takes place right after Chapter 13.
The Moments In Between:
"Are you suicidal?"
"Only in the morning."
Mara Jade Skywalker stood in the entrance way of the Eclipse's lab, shaking her head. The meeting had broken up over half an hour ago as everyone went their separate ways to think on what lay ahead. All but Anakin that is. The youngest Solo remained behind with his eyes cast on the sea of stars that stretched out into the abyss.
"You know, despite what Ulaha says, the odds of you making it out of this alive..." she trailed off as she stepped toward her nephew, coming to a stop beside him.
"We'll be fine," Anakin objected, waving a dismissive hand. "It's a good plan, and with the Force behind us-"
"Don't give me that sith spit!" Mara Jade spat. She grabbed his shoulder and searched his profile with serious green eyes. "This is me you're talking to now."
She felt him deflate under her grip as he released a heavy sigh. He lifted his ice blue gaze to her and the sad fatalism lurking there made her heart clench inside her chest. "I know, Aunt Mara. I know."
"You're going to die," she stated. There was no question in her voice.
Anakin sighed, leaning his elbows on the railing in front of him. "We can kill the Queen, I know it."
The rising bubble of emotion was squashed before it could reach the surface, and Mara leaned beside her nephew, their shoulders brushing. "It's a high price to pay."
"But a necessary one," he added.
They stood in silence for a long while, their eyes searching the stars, looking anywhere but at each other. They were both fighters, Mara realized. Both of them meant to live in times of war. Soldiers willing to do whatever they had to for their cause.
Luke had never been a warrior. He had learned about war, but out of necessity only, a requirement for surviving in times like these. At his core, he was still a peacemaker, understanding none of the brutality caused by the Empire or the Vong.
"How many have you been to?"
Mara snapped out of her reverie at the question, her eyebrows rising. "How many whats have I been to?"
"Planets," Anakin clarified, motioning out to the foreground of tiny lights.
Mara shrugged. "I'm not sure. I've traveled a lot; I've lost count."
"I went to Mon Calamari once," he said. "One of mom's ill-fated attempts to bring the family closer together. I always wanted to take Tahiri to see the Crystal Reefs. I think she would have enjoyed that."
Luke and Tahiri, the compassionate hearts to their wills of durosteel.
"You wouldn't have let Luke go, would you, even if he'd insisted?" Mara asked suddenly.
Anakin turned to her and cocked his head to the side in puzzlement. "I couldn't. I made a promise, remember?"
The naked honesty in his gaze brought a rush of tears to Mara's eyes that threatened to spill down her cheeks, but she held it in check. This was no time for tears. Those would come later, when she stood alone in the refresher and Luke and Ben lay safe in the next room.
"You know, I have been to the Reefs. They're beautiful," she said, turning her gaze away from him. "What would you have done, when you and Tahiri got there?"
Anakin looked down, a ghost of something crossing his face. "Proposed, I think."
Mara nodded, not bothering to speak. How do you apologize for something that can never be?
"I would have kissed her under the Purple Archway," he continued. "A real kiss, not something rushed inside of an airless locker or frantic behind enemy lines. A real kiss. Something that wouldn't be tainted with the memory of death."
Mara swallowed, mourning silently for the life Anakin Solo would never know. "Do you want that kiss?" she asked, the words a whisper in the empty room.
Anakin closed his eyes. "Yes."
Without thinking, Mara leaned over and tilted his face toward hers. His blue eyes reflected impossible depths; a sea of emotion and thought that threatened to consume. She leaned in and found his lips with her own.
There was no shyness, no tentative coaxing. None of his Uncle's gentle exploration. In Anakin's mouth, she felt only fierce determination and strength, a strange mixture for one so young. He poured himself into her, and she answered back with equal force.
A moment was all it lasted, but a moment was all they needed. It was all they had now. After a heartbeat, they moved away, breaking the kiss and the fury of passion.
"Is there anything I can do?" Mara asked.
Anakin shook his head and leaned his shoulder against hers. "Just stay here with me for a little while."
She leaned back, taking comfort in the touch. In a flash he would be gone, she knew. Then, all that would be left was this fading memory.
-----signature-----
Nom Anor: I witnessed the death of perhaps the greatest of them all, the one called Anakin Solo.
Anakin Solo: You want me to move? Come on and move me!
Jacen: Count on Anakin to be the last Human to get out of Duro space alive.
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