(A/N1: Thank you to all who have followed me this far! I cannot believe the support I've received! Here's hoping you stick with me for Book 3!)

(A/N2: Some of this chapter's contents may not be suitable for some/younger readers.)

Chapter Forty-Four:

Guilt was nothing new to Darth Vader, Dark Lord of the Sith.

He had already lived with it for well over two decades now... the guilt of having killed his wife, and supposedly his child also.

But this guilt was a new one.

Because this time, he had harmed and wronged his son, his child. And now that he was approaching the Imperial Palace, Vader could do nothing to correct his mistake. Palpatine already knew that Vader was on the planet. For him to do anything rash now would prove a mistake.

But once his feet touched the floor of the Imperial Palace, and he strode along the familiar halls, his previous confidence returned with each step, his guilt fading away.

He was Darth Vader, Dark Lord of the Sith: he did not allow mere guilt to hinder him.

No matter whom it was garnered from.

Darth Vader would not be cowed.

So, with head held high, Vader marched with purpose toward his master, the child in tow within her metal prison.

00000

Luke looked up as the door to their quarters opened, and Mara strode through. He stood instantly, and walked up to greet her.

"How'd it go?" he asked softly.

Leia had insisted to Luke that they come out with Mara's background, at least to Alliance High Command. Her reasoning had been that if they kept it under wraps and it came out in a way similar to how she had found out; things would get very ugly, very fast.

Luke and Mara had talked in depth about it, and finally agreed to do so. However, Alliance High Command had asked him to leave once he'd given his account. He'd done so reluctantly, but only when Mara had sent him her assurance she could handle them.

To his surprise, Leia had stopped by first, saying Mara had been pulled aside by Mon Mothma after the debrief.

"Luke..." Leia bit her lip, looking down. "How I treated Mara before was wrong. I am sorry... but I thought she'd betrayed us. You have to look at it from my angle."

Luke sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I can see why you'd be upset, but to leave her behind... Leia, she's your sister!"

"...I know." Leia's eyes spilled shamed tears. "And I am so sorry I didn't think to return for her once we weren't able to get Shmi. But in all fairness, things were moving very quickly that day."

Luke nodded. "Yeah..."

He suddenly realized something: he would have to tell Leia about their father... but not right then. He would let things cool down a touch after Bespin. Maybe once they got Han back... then Leia would have someone to lean on when he told her. He knew she'd need it.

"Well, things did turn out alright in the end for Mara." Luke soothed her, coming forward to wipe her tears away gently. "And... I forgive you. I should have told you sooner about Mara, and I'm sorry you had to find out like you did."

Leia smiled gratefully at him. "You two really are in love, aren't you?"

Luke smiled brightly for the first time in days. "Completely."

Leia's return smile was warm. "Well, I'm happy for you both."

She kissed his cheek and turned to leave, but Luke tugged her hand to bring her back. He looked seriously into her eyes.

"Leia, you do know we will get Han back, don't you?"

Leia nodded solemnly. "I know. I just... miss him." She offered a weary sigh. "I finally stopped acting like an idiot, and now he's gone. It's not fair."

Luke nodded. "I understand."

Leia grimaced, realizing Luke's loss was far greater. "Luke, that was insensitive..."

"No; you love Han as much as I love Mara and Shmi." Luke cut her off softly. "I don't hold that against you."

She hugged him tightly. "I love you brother."

"I love you too, Little Sis."

She snorted a laugh and whacked his arm. Their smiles for each other were genuine, and they each knew all was forgiven.

"It went smoothly, all things considered," Mara answered, bringing Luke back to the present. "They asked me the expected questions, and then some I wasn't counting on. But though they're a little wary of me, they didn't lock me up, so that's a bonus."

Luke smirked. "Yeah. What did Mon want?"

"To thank me for my honesty, and also for the service I've given," Mara said, and Luke felt her surprise mirror his own. "She also asked if I would be interested in heading up a special ops team to do undercover missions."

Luke's head came up some. "And?"

"I told her that my top priority right now was to get Shmi, and then I'd see what happens after that," Mara replied.

Luke nodded. "If you do want to head a team, I won't stop you."

Mara gave him a look. "Actually, I was thinking..."

Luke lifted both brows at her suggestive tone. "Yes?"

She walked up to him, placing a hand to his chest and looking him dead-on, though her lips quirked into a smirk.

"Now that you're officially a Jedi... maybe I could have a formal teacher now too... in the Jedi arts, I mean." Mara finished.

Luke smiled openly. "I'd love to teach you."

Mara nodded. "Then I will learn under you."

Mara looked to Luke's belt, now devoid of his lightsaber. Vader had confiscated hers when he'd taken her prisoner. "And I want to build a new lightsaber with you. I want one to symbolize my new life with you and Shmi. I think..." Mara pursed her lips. "Well...I don't want another violet one. I think I want a blue one... or maybe... well, I don't know. Just not violet."

Luke chuckled. "Well, I have to go to Ben's old hut on Tatooine to get parts and such... why don't we go together?"

Mara smiled. "I like the way you think, husband mine."

He kissed her gently, and then held her close, letting her presence sooth him like the healing balm it was. They were still aching over Shmi's kidnap, but they both had agreed not to let it hold them down: because if they did, they were afraid such a thing would hinder their rescue plan. Not that they had much of one just yet, but they were trying. Mara had shared with him all her knowledge of Imperial Center and the Palace.

So far, however, they had nothing.

Sighing softly, Luke sent Shmi a mental urge to keep her hopes up, not surprised when she didn't respond.

So he focused on the beautiful woman in his arms, breathing her in. However, after a time, Mara pulled back and eyed him a little shyly.

"What is it?" Luke asked, concerned.

"I know this is probably a bad time and all... but I..." she bit her lip.

Luke cocked his head curiously. "What?"

"...make love to me?" Mara whispered, closing her eyes and grasping the tunic at his chest in her hands. "After Bespin... I... I thought you were lost to me forever..."

Luke stepped forward, taking her right hand with his and touching her face lovingly with the other. "Mara, there is never a bad time to make love to you."

She opened her eyes, and smiled softly at him, but Mara's eyes spoke of her need to be loved by her husband... the man she'd nearly lost. Luke didn't hesitate. Using the Force, Luke locked their door and then captured her lips with his.

Mara's arms circled around his neck, and she drew him closer. Luke's hands wandered, feeling her burning desire to just be with him already.

Luke smiled against her lips. "Impatient much, My Love?" he teased gently.

Her response was to rip his shirt off, and then grab his pants. Luke mentally chuckled, but removed her shirt too. Then he backed her to the bed, where she lay down.

He tugged her pants and underwear off, and then stretched out beside her. To him, seeing her in nothing but a bra was utterly arousing, and he let her know by caressing her all over with his lips.

Luke felt her quiver, and he doubled his affections, adding his fingertips to the mix. He intentionally took his time, loving her to the fullest as she'd asked, and he felt her previous haste fade.

When he eventually returned to lying face-to-face with her, she drew him close and pushed against him. Luke rolled onto his back, bringing her with him. And as their lips met in a series of tender kisses, he removed her bra, the action of sliding it down her arms as equally exciting to him as seeing Mara in it had been.

Mara turned on the sensual charm, moving her body in ways that had him trembling with white-hot desire. Finally Mara reached the end of her patience and she moved into her desired position.

When Luke took her, he opened himself to her in the Force, seeking her in the bond they'd forged in the medical center. She readily accepted, and they peaked to new heights together.

And as their love and bodies mingled, unbeknownst to them, life was created.

00000

Emperor Palpatine sat enshrouded in his throne, watching with great glee as Darth Vader marched into the throne room. Behind him, an officer guided a floating block of carbonite forward.

A smile lifted the lifeless lips, showing rotting teeth.

Vader arrived at the steps to the throne and bent to one knee, bowing low.

"I have brought the child as you ordered, Master," Vader said simply.

"Excellent work, my friend," Palpatine praised. "Were there any issues in her retrieval?"

There was the briefest of pauses, and then Vader dipped his head a little deeper. "No, My Master."

Palpatine lifted his brow, having caught the pause. But he let it go.

The officer stopped a few paces behind Lord Vader, and waited for instructions.

"You may hang the child on the wall," Palpatine ordered, gesturing to the exact spot.

"Yes, Your Majesty." The officer bowed low, and proceeded to maneuver the carbonite.

"You do not wish her thawed, Master?" Vader queried, surprised.

"Not yet, my friend." Palpatine allowed the question in favor of his apprentice's success. "I wish to savor this victory for a while first."

Vader said nothing in response, but looked to the carbonite once the officer had it situated as Palatine wanted it. The officer then bowed again to Palpatine, saluted Vader, and then marched crisply out.

"You are dismissed, Lord Vader," Palpatine told his second in command.

"Yes Master." Vader bowed once more and then left.

Palpatine swiveled his throne to gaze openly upon the girl's frozen features. He wondered if she looked like her father, as her own father looked like his. He could sense her powerful Force potential, even in her current, unresponsive state.

Yes... such power. Only the daughter of Luke Skywalker, son of the Chosen One Anakin Skywalker could harness such power. He would take great delight in twisting this child to his own ends.

But that could wait.

As he'd said: he wished to savor his victory, imagining the despair her father to be in right now over her capture.

That thought brought him great amusement, and seconds later a wicked cackle bounced around the throne room.

(A/N3: Join Luke, Mara, Shmi, Vader, Palpatine and the others as their adventure continues in Suns Among Stars Book 3: Shadows Fall Behind)