Beyond - Legends One Perfect Night--an AU L/M challenge from Juliet316

Author's note: THis is in response to Juliet316's challenge to write a L/M vignette about the night Ben was born in a universe where there was no war, vong, or disease to complicate things.
*****
"Next time, Skywalker, it's your turn to do this."

"It is advisable that you push, Mistress Jade Skywalker."

Luke patted Mara's hand consolingly as another contraction hit. She was too dignified to scream at this point, but it didn't stop her from kicking the 2-1B droid across the room.

"Patience, dear," he encouraged. "The head's already out."

"Yeah," she snarled, "but that was the easy part."

The bones in his hand were starting to creak by the time the contraction ended, but the droid returned in time to announce that one more push should be sufficient.

"This had...better...be worth it," Mara gasped.

"I have no doubt it will be," Luke laughed. "You're going to be her Mom."

"His!" she gritted.

A moment later, she was proved right as their firstborn let out an ear-splitting wail.

"With lungs like that, it could only be your son," he teased, lips brushing against her sweat-soaked brow.

The skin furrowed and he guessed that her own tears would soon follow, but he didn't blame her for the uncharacteristic display of emotion. His own eyes were stinging, but he didn't want the tears to cloud his vision when he got a first look at their son.

"A perfectly healthy boy," the droid declared, delivering the swaddled bundle into Luke's arms.

"Perfect," Mara echoed, arms reaching out.

Luke willingly surrendered their son, acknowledging the sufferer's prior claim to this perfect moment. The newborn immediately curled against her, as if recognizing someone unmistakably familiar and Mara sucked in a shuddering breath before letting the tears come.

"We've waited so long," she whispered.

It was the same thing she said every time their attempts to have a child failed or when they saw others welcoming new additions to the family. Through ten years, not from lack of trying, they had been unable to have a child of their own.

"I hope you've thought of a name by now?" he prompted.

"Anakin?"

"Too many of those in the family," he laughed. "Maybe Obi-Wan Skywalker..."

"Two great names, ruined by association," she groaned.

"All right, all right," he sighed.

He settled into the chair next to the bed, pulling the blanket back so he could enjoy the view as well. Grey eyes blinked back at him.

"Ben," they said at the same time.

Without needing to explain why, they both knew it was the perfect choice.

"We've waited for so long," Luke echoed, hand stroking his son's cheek, "but good things come to those who wait."

 

awww... that was perfectly sweet...

 

So sweet

 

Lovely! What a wonderful challenge.

 

Thanks, thanks, and thanks, all.

 

"With lungs like that, it could only be your son," he teased, lips brushing against her sweat-soaked brow.

Luke is lucky that Mara is tired from labor. She could have smacked him for that.

 

Ugh! this makes me wish TDN trilogy was this happy! great story!

 

That was beautiful. They finally got what they had been wanting for so long. Lovely, DarthIshtar.

 

"Next time, Skywalker, it's your turn to do this."



Master Ishy-

Wonderful! Angst-free October is off to an awesome start.

"Heart"

 

Lovely vig, Ish!

"We've waited so long," she whispered.

It was the same thing she said every time their attempts to have a child failed or when they saw others welcoming new additions to the family. Through ten years, not from lack of trying, they had been unable to have a child of their own.

That part really got me. Beautiful!

 

The part about waiting for so long is part-reflection from me in the days when absolutely everyone except me was having kids and I wasn't sure I was going to be able to have any at all and part-my friend Deb who had a lot of problems before having a baby girl.

LOL, thanks, hon. Glad you're enjoying this more light-hearted month.

Thanks, hon.

What, TDN isn't happy? But I thought all those...well, never mind. I have a different definition of happy.

Yeah, she should have smacked him. Hard.

 

Lovely, heartfelt! I had to do a double-take at first. No angst? Wonderfully written!

 

Lovely, lovely vig, Ish. That's how it should've gone. Not some wacked-out disease!

Loved the banter between them. And also loved the picking of the name.

 

Awwwwwwwwwww...... Nice sweet viggie

Just the thing to cheer me up.

 

LOL, glad it cheered you up. Thanks for the input.

LOL, why am I not surprised you liked any alternative to the NJO? And I like the mutual decision on the name. ANd the Obi-Wan Skywalker thing and Luke's response is a reference to my first anakin/padme ep2-3 fic, where obi-wan suggested Padme name their child after him and she goes "Two noble names ruined by association."

LOL, thanks. And an entire month of double-takes like that.