The Love Commander Collection: The Interrupted Honeymoon

Scene 5 - The Real Truth

Mara and Luke sat on the Star Deck in a comfortable lounge chair, enjoying the holographic projections of ocean views from Naboo. Mara snuggled up in Luke's embrace. He kissed her hair and murmured, "Why don't I tell you about how I don't like sand? It's course and rough and irritating."

"And it gets everywhere, I know." Mara kissed his cheek. "Farmboy, despite what your father's Force ghost may have told you, that's not romantic."

"Hmph," he grumped. He began kissing her face and neck, softly and rhythmically. Relaxing under his tender caresses, Mara decided to check on Ben. Slowly, she reached out in the Force, driven by maternal instincts.

"He's going to notice," Luke chided between kisses. "But since you peeked, how is he?"

Mara stiffened and Luke stopped kissing. "Reach out for him," she whispered hoarsely.

Luke did. He gasped. "I can't feel him!" He jumped to his feet, then stopped, alarm rolling off him in the Force. "But I can feel that. Let's get to the Shadow."

"Ben, I've tried to comm you ten times!" Mara scolded frantically over her comm as she followed Luke into the hangar. "Where are you?"

"Sorry, Mom. We're in the Arcade. I guess the pod-racing was kind of loud."

"I couldn't feel you," Mara explained more calmly. "What else are you doing?"

"Nothing, honest. Maybe it's Uncle Lando's weird Arcade room."

"Maybe." At a sudden thought, Mara reached out for Vestara but could not find her either. "I was just checking. Mother's prerogative. Have fun in the Arcade."

She switched off her comm and looked at Luke. "It might work."

Luke blew out a breath. "Bluffing Sith?"

"Uncle Luke, what's going on?" Jaina raced up behind them, tucking her slinky black robe more tightly around herself. Jag followed in a slightly disheveled lounge tunic and pants.

Luke raised an eyebrow at the couple, hiding a smile. "You two didn't have to interrupt your activities. Your old uncle and aunt can handle a few Sith."

Jaina crossed her arms and frowned at Luke. "So Jag and I want to start a family, okay? But from what I sensed, that's not just 'a few Sith' out there."

"They're here for Vestara, aren't they?" Ben Solo asked, hurrying into the hangar with Rey in tow. "Do you think they found out somehow?"

Damp clothes clung to his big body and he had a wet towel draped over his shoulder. Moisture drops clung to his dark hair. Beside him, Rey was dressed in fuzzy, pink pajamas, yawning and rubbing her eyes.

Mara surveyed the couple. "It's likely that it has something to do with Vestara."

Luke nodded in agreement, then chuckled. "You could have finished your sanisteam, Ben, although I admire your devotion to familial duty. And you really should have let your wife finish her nap."

"But you need us," Jacen asserted as he and Tenel Ka joined the group. They were dressed in elaborate Hapan swimwear, with complex, jewel-studded geometric patterns adorning both the tops and the bottoms.

"Of course, he does. Sith are a serious matter," agreed Anakin Solo, walking in with Tahiri on his arm and a space tennis racket over his shoulder. The pair wore coordinating blue and white sailor-themed tennis outfits.

"Kid, I hope you don't plan to fight Sith with a tennis racket." Han stepped into the hangar with Leia and Lando. Both men held sabbac cards and Leia carried a cup of ambrosia.