"Echoes of Always" - Luke/Mara - Epilogue, 4/25
I liked the notes I wrote over at ff.net so I left them intact here at the end of the epilogue. I have another post of notes coming up, too. I have a lot to say!! ;)
EPILOGUE
Luke stood on a craggy cliff overlooking ocean waves as they lapped at the beach. It was cold now, the off season, but still a beautiful beach with crystal clear water and soft white sand. Couples strolled hand in hand wearing long sweaters and sipping hot drinks while families combed the sands for seashells and sea glass. He could feel them all around him, their happy presences in the Force a welcome hum accompanying the rhythm of the ocean waves.
He and Mara had spent part of their honeymoon here on this beach, many years ago. She had never stood in this particular spot with him, but he remembered noticing it one evening as they had walked beside the surf under the light of a full moon. He smiled faintly, joy overtaking the pang of sorrow he suspected would always be there in his heart, even with all the changes he had been through in the past few months.
They had always talked about coming back here as a family, and he wished he had those memories to add to the ones of just he and Mara on the beach. But seeing Ben relax and have fun made the trip even more enjoyable than Luke had anticipated. They had survived their encounter with the fanatical Ewok tribe and that was not something he wanted to remember, though Ben insisted on singing the Yub Nub song often and loudly on the way home from that particular mission.
Home. He and Ben had moved back into the Temple, to the welcoming arms of the Jedi. Daala had yet to make another move against them, but part of him knew it was only a matter of time. But back at home with Ben, and among the Jedi, Luke felt more like himself again. He was more in charge of his life and destiny than he had been in some time. And he liked that feeling. It was almost as if a dark cloud had moved and he could see clearly once again. He knew he was ready for anything Daala might throw at him. He and the Jedi were ready.
His reason for standing on the cliff tugged at his memory. He pulled the IDD out of his pocket, staring at it in the sunlight reflecting from the water. It was a broken machine, but still he was carrying it around, bittersweet memories attached to it. He thought of Mara, the way she had felt in his arms and the completeness she brought to him. He thought of Betrys, the beautiful daughter he would never know for more than just a day, and of Ben, so like his own son, clever and powerful. He would never know their fates, but their destinies and his were no longer entwined and they would be fine. They had one another, and he had Ben.
He pulled back with his right arm and tossed the IDD as far as he could, watching as it arced up into the light and fell with a plunk in the middle of the ocean. And he felt no regret.
He turned to walk away but suddenly the sun was brighter and the wind crisper as he felt familiar arms wrap around his waist. She was there in his mind again, her love as bright and intoxicating as always. It’ll be okay, my love, phantom lips seemed to murmur in his ear as their souls merged for an eternal second. Then there was a familiar brush against his hair, so soft.
He gasped and tried to reach for the elusive hand, but the colors muted back to their normal shades and he was alone on the cliff once more. "Mara," he whispered, her name carried away on the wind as he stood there smiling.
"Dad?" Luke turned to smile at his son as he climbed up the small cliff. "What are you doing?"
Luke pulled his cloak tighter around himself. "Just enjoying the view."
Ben looked out over the expanse of water. "Yeah. Nice. Anyway, Daala’s on the comm. She says you’re under arrest for inciting bad fashion on the galaxy."
"Tell her I pled guilty to that charge years ago."
"See, there you go with the humor again. Who says Jedi Masters are stuffy?"
"Your mother always did."
"Yet she hung out with you all the time. I think she was protesting a little too much."
A smile touched Luke’s lips. "Maybe."
"Anyway, I just climbed up here to tell you it was time to feed the kid. But I’ll give you a minute to meditate or whatever you were doing." Ben started climbing back down.
Luke watched him go before turning to look back at the water. It was time to devote his energy to Ben and to the Jedi Order. Thanks to Mara, both Maras, he could do that now. Her love had always inspired him and would continue to do so. Ever and always.
He looked down at Ben and started climbing after him. "Hang on a minute," he called to his son. "I’ll come with you."
.
.
.
.
.
.
I know that ending is used often, but there's a reason for it. All hail Tim Zahn, without whom most of us would only think of Star Wars as a great film and that would be the end of it.
I want to thank all of you for reading this story. It has meant so much to me, the story itself and your comments/thoughts/concerns. It just goes to show how much love we all have for these characters and that makes me smile. So thank you!
I also must thank two fantastic women who helped make this story what it is. First, jadepilot, who was the first person I mentioned this idea to back in 2007 (and continued to bug her with for the next few years). Her faith in me and the story is what made me want to write it, and the story is FOR her. Thank you for being such a wonderful friend and confidant, gal.
And second, jedimara77, who along with her 'Red Pen of Doom' made this story far more than it would ever have been with me alone at the wheel. Thank you for all your hard work, brainstorming, general awesomeness and friendship. You also helped me believe I could write something longer than a one-shot of smut (though, those are nice, too! *g*).
I have several ideas for pre-EoA AU L/M fics, but I also have a toddler who has decided bedtime is the enemy at the moment. (Poor Little Gal. Poor Mommy!) But there are at least two things in the works. You haven't seen the last of this universe... Check back late this summer for '200 Proposals', detailing AU Luke and Mara's (long) walk down the aisle.