| �Mara?� I walked into the apartment, searching for my fianc�e. �Mara? Where are you?� I found her on the balcony, staring out at the lights of Coruscant. �Mara?� Her back was to me, and her arms were folded�not, I realized, crossed like they usually were. She was hugging herself as though she were cold, although it was a pleasantly warm evening. �Mara? Are you all right?� �I�m fine.� Her voice was almost unrecognizable, twisted and strangled. And she was not fine, despite what she said. �Mara, honestly, what�s wrong?� She turned to face me, and there was a pinched look in her face, as though she was trying to keep from saying something. She shook her head. �Luke, it�s� it�s nothing, okay? Just� nothing.� I frowned at her. �Mara, you�re upset about something. I don�t know what, and I don�t know why, but I hate seeing you unhappy. Just tell me.� She turned back out to look at the lights of Coruscant. �That� that meeting with the press that Leia set up,� she said finally. �Their questions, their attitudes, they made me feel worthless. Everything they said seemed to be designed to make me feel like I didn�t deserve�� She trailed off. �Deserve what, love?� I asked her softly. She sighed. �Deserve my powers. Deserve that pardon I was granted after Wayland for serving the Emperor. And most of all, deserve you.� There was an expression in her face that was hard to read per se, but with the sense of her mind� �Mara, don�t let anyone convince you of that,� I said firmly. Then my face and tone softened. �I love you, Mara, more than anything else. More than you could possibly know.� She studied my face in the twilight. �Luke� Luke, thank you. I was feeling awful about myself, about everything. I� I was doing okay with the reporters until one of them brought up Callista. They spent so long in that vein, asking me if I really thought the Emperor�s Hand was a better match for a Jedi Master than a Jedi like her.� I took her into my arms, and she wrapped her arms around my neck, resting her head on my shoulder. �Mara, it doesn�t matter what the reporters say. I love you, and I want to be with you, and if they don�t like the idea, they can take their opinions and stuff them in impolite places, because their opinions don�t matter.� Mara turned her head slightly and buried her face in the crook of my neck. I stroked her hair gently, and opened our Force bond as wide as I could, sending all the love and support and care I felt. After a few seconds, she pulled her face up, and looked me in the eye. �I love you, Luke,� she murmured. �I love you too, Mara.� |
| "I Love You" |