Beyond - Legends Insatiable - (Luke/Mara, angst) Complete! Epilogue posted 12 May

AniriRevan - Thank you, yes it does!

Jedi-Roxy - Thanks! Will certainly add you to the PM list.


To all those who have asked for the PM chapter, I have not forgotten you! I am trying to locate the file and it should be sent out asap. Thanks to all for reading and for being patient!

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[b]Chapter 26[/b]


Luke drew Mara into a fierce hug as soon as the turbolift doors closed behind them. She squirmed slightly in his arms but allowed his embrace, even resting her head on his shoulder. He wanted to say how proud he was of her, but didn?t want to sounds patronising.

?Holo scum,? he heard Mara mutter into the folds of his tunic. They?d just barely managed to navigate the distance between his speeder and the entrance to the Smugglers Alliance HQ without being savaged by hordes of holoreporters and press. Luke had tried to dodge them in his speeder but the sheer mass of them meant he had been unable to lose them all. And somehow, they had managed to anticipate where they were going, because there were twice as many waiting outside the doors when they arrived.

?Are you okay?? Luke asked.

Mara pulled away and tossed her hair dismissively. ?Didn?t even notice them,? she declared, and Luke smiled slightly.

?You ready??

?Skywalker, I?m always ready.? It was a typical response, and for a moment it was the Mara he remembered ? that fierce determination that would drive her to anything. He knew how strong it could be - for that fierce will had once been directed against him; now she was challenging it inwards. She would succeed, or fail. There was no other option.


***********


Luke and Mara sat across the briefing table from Aves, who was staring at them with a mix of suspicion and pity, and had been doing so for the past five minutes.

?So, what?s your answer?? Mara snapped, apparently annoyed by the lack of response to what Luke had believed to be a heartfelt speech.

?Of course I?ll take over the organisation, Mara,? he replied in a measured tone. ?If you?re sure that?s what you want.? His eyes flickered to Luke.

?He?s got nothing to do with it,? Mara snapped again, then sighed heavily, as if to release all of her anger in one breath. ?Of course this is not what I want,? she said evenly after a long silence. ?But this is what has to happen.?

?It?s just you were so adamant before, about what Talon wanted,? Aves pressed.

?He certainly didn?t want us to stop trading, and that?s exactly what happened,? Mara replied. ?You were...right, Aves,? she managed to continue. ?I let him down. We?ve lost some of our contracts, our reputation...and I let it happen. But I?m trying to fix that now.?

Ave?s expression was inscrutable. ?Alright,? he said finally, and Mara pushed across a datapad for his signature. He scrawled his name and passed it back across the table to Mara, who seemed to have quite some difficulty signing her name. Pen in hand, the tip hovered above the datapad, her fingers shaking slightly for several long moments. Luke knew it was a difficult moment for her. She was not only signing her livelihood away, but the last tangible link she had to Talon.

Then, in a bold, quick action, Mara signed the electronic form, and the deed was done. She pushed back the datapad to Aves. ?I?m sure the Alliance lawyers can ratify that,? she said, her businesslike voice displaying only a hint of pain. ?And our Eleiic account is worth the most to us...you,? she corrected, ?so I would start on that; the Ambassador enjoys Alderaanian cuisine, I suggest a business dinner to get him on side. And the Wild Karrde fuelling systems are due for a service, and...well, I?m sure you know what?s best.?

Luke looked at Mara?s hands fisted in her lap ? her sharp nails were digging into her palms. Luke reached under the table to gently loosen her grip, and she took his hand in both of hers gratefully.

?Thank you, Mara,? Aves said.

?Aves,? Mara said as he started to rise from the table, and he halted, looking at her shrewdly

 

You're so evil!

I'm so proud.

 

But in the morning she woke up early, packed her things and left his apartment for good.

Ouch!

Still, it's sooo nice to see this story updated!

 

Wait... she... huh? How could she? WHY did she? What's going on here??? Why do I feel out of the loop? She can't just leave him... that's a step backwards... Fix it! Make it all better again!!!!! Pretty Please???


Phoenix

 

Nasty JL, nasty, tempting me, leading me on like that.

 

As much as it may be that she can't stay with him, Mara needs to be on her own in order to fully heal. I'm happy to see this updated though. Don't take so long with the next one.

 

Thank you so much for updating!!


But why the evil cliffie???

Oh well. She's finally told him that she loves him...and she resisted temptation. I'm proud of her.

 

But in the morning she woke up early, packed her things and left his apartment for good.

Say what??????????? I did NOT see that coming at all! But yay--an update!!! Can't wait for the next, girl!!

Well done!

 

My admiration for Mara was over the top in this update. I loved them reestablishing their relationship: their banter, their trust, sweetness. The dance scene, Mara's realization of love, just melted me!!!! The whole yummy thing was so SQUEE! worthy it was absolutely ridiculous.... until: But in the morning she woke up early, packed her things and left his apartment for good.

WHAT????!!!!!!!?????? IS UP WITH THAT??????!!!!

Okay, that early part spoiled me!!! I want some more mush!!! Fast!!!

 

Oh now that was just...WRONG

But oh so good...

 

so i'm reading and reading, and thinking 'yay, they're gonna be okay.' and then i get to the end and i just sat there staring at the screen in horror.

but why!!??

on the other hand, thanks for the update. it made my night

-paige

 

Ditto for the most part. Although I can see Mara needing to feel a little independant again. I can only hope that she's just altering the living arrangments and not actually ending the relationship. Great update JL!

 

That was pure Sith!! I like it!! Great Job as always!

Thanks for the PM!

PHGS Weyr

 

Wonderful update! I love how Mara is setting her life on track again. It must have killed her to give Aves the business, but she knows he will take care of it (and Ghent) for her. It would have been much worse to give it over to someone who didn't know Talon.

Mara left, huh? I wonder if this is a parallel to her testing her limits in the spice dens. If that was her testing herself to see if she can make it on her own without the addiction to spice, perhaps leaving Luke is her way of testing to see if she can make it on her own without the addiction to Luke.

Luke has to be incredibly patient. Mara looks and acts better, but she is still not well.

 

Great couple of updates!

Looks like Luke will have to learn to trust her again.

 

Whaaaaaat?!?!?!?
So they love each other...and she leaves? What are you up to here?

 

Like I've said before, if Mara doesn't want him, I've got plenty of room for him here...

Oh, JL, you're just evil and breaking my heart! But I know you and your inside-track with Mara--I'm sure you have her reasons pegged down perfectly.

Great to see you back, lady!

 

I'm proud of Mara for facing the test she set up for herself but I can't figure out (or I'm trying not to) why she left Luke. They both were making great progress. Luke is going to be devestated. I know I'll be there right with him... Excellent chapter, JL... you know just how much to give to drive us nuts!

 

evil falls too short for an ending like this...

 

Gah! Mean, evil....author!

 

Yayyy! Mara and Lukey are in Lurve, and Mara finally moved out into her own apartment so that she can date Luke properly and get her independance back!!! Right?!

 

I must say luke will be crushed


mmmmm evil author, here have a cookie. . .

 

An update!!

I'm so glad DRL is letting up enough for you to write again. Good on Mara for being willing to face her demons and the L/M was .

 

Mara oh Mara. I guess I do understand but I am not so sure Luke will. I think she needs to see if she can make it on the outside. Out in the real world where she is not in a protected atmosphere. Relying on Luke so much and proving to herself that she can make it. Just like leaving rehab. Watch out girl for that six week hump that seems to fall on recovering addicts. Still I think it was terrible of her to leave in the middle of the night but that's Mara. Hope she left him a note explaining why she ran. Super post and thank you.

 

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