Chapter Twenty Five:

A day later Leia looked up as her door opened, and she smiled to see who it was. "Luke!"

Her twin brother's face lit up also and he picked up his pace to get to her side. "Leia!"

He gave her a gentle but no-less fervent hug, holding her close for quite some time. "I'm so glad you're home safe with us," he choked.

Leia smiled softly. "So am I." Her demeanor dimmed some. "But I still need to figure out this blasted hand..."

Luke pulled away and perched on the edge of her bed. "It takes some time, I won't lie, but having a prosthetic does have its advantages."

Leia lifted a brow. "You don't say?"

Luke extended his own prosthetic right hand. "Sure: it's mechanical so it is stronger, it can also take an electrical jolt without necessarily frying the rest of you, stuff like that."

Leia rolled her eyes. "Gee, thanks for that last."

Luke snickered. "I'm just saying, it's not all bad..."

Leia knew he was trying to cheer her up, and she was grateful, but still. "Now I know how you felt about your own hand after Bespin."

Vivid flashbacks of how her hand had been taken made Leia slightly queasy and she shifted in bed, uncomfortable.

Luke frowned in concern. "What's wrong? Are you in pain?"

Leia started to shake her head no, but then nodded. "Yes. I... I can't get it out of my head how it happened."

Luke nodded in understanding. "Han told me the how. I had trouble getting Vader's attack out of my head when I lost my hand too."

"How did you get over that?" Leia asked. "How did you not let it bother you anymore?"

Luke considered. "I chose not to let it... but that took time and some serious soul searching on my part for reasons you know well now." Leia nodded and he went on. "Ultimately, I accepted that it happened, but that I survived it. Maybe for a reason, maybe not. But torturing myself with the 'what-if's' wasn't getting me anywhere, so I had to make the choice to move forward."

Leia thinned her lips some. "I can still feel the pain as my hand was crushed... I woke up last night thinking it was happening again."

Luke tilted his head. "Why not have Han stay in bed with you? Or if you want, we could have Artoo stay in here at night and if you're having a nightmare he can alert someone."

Leia sighed. "I... I'll think about it."

Luke inclined his head. "Okay." In an effort to change the subject to something more cheerful, Luke nudged her gently. "So, are you ready to be an aunt again?"

Leia smiled. "Twins? You're really having twins? Han told me about that."

Luke chuckled. "Yes, we're having fraternal twins. The gene obviously runs in our family big time."

She beamed. "I can't wait! I can't wait to hold them and love them and spoil them rotten and send them home to Daddy."

Luke pulled a mild face. "You'll have Mara breathing down your neck if you're not careful Aunt Leia."

She paused at that. "Hmm, you're right, Han and I will take off in the Falcon and you can handle her."

Luke feigned offense. "You mean thing!"

They shared another laugh and Luke bent down to kiss her head. "I love you Sis."

Leia pulled him in for another embrace. "I love you too, Luke. I'm glad you're alright also."

"It was a close call, but Father saved us in the end," Luke murmured, laying down beside her and propping his head on an elbow as he faced her. "I do wish... sometimes... that he could have survived. But after talking with Han, I know it's better this way. He can rest in peace now."

Leia didn't quite know how to respond to that. She hadn't ever liked Vader, father or not, but Luke had clearly loved him regardless. "I'm not sorry to see him go," she said honestly, touching his shoulder. "But I am sorry you lost... Father."

Luke smiled wistfully. "That actually means a lot Leia, thank you."

She nodded, and they sat in companionable silence for a time before Luke grabbed up the remote to her room's holovid, flopping carefully back. "So, is there anything worth watching on this thing?"

Leia smirked. "Why don't we find out?"

"Let's." Luke agreed, flipping it on. And together brother and sister wiled away a few needed hours, both soaking in the company of the other without complaint.

Epilogue:

Luke sat at Mara's bedside, her hand in his— or rather, his hand in hers, and he was glad he'd thought to give her his false hand— as the doctor checked her for readiness to deliver. It had been a few months now since the fall of Emperor Palpatine, and the Rebellion had been swift to take advantage of the Empire's lack of coordination to win several major victories, including Coruscant, though it would still be some time before a New Republic was fully formed. Battles still raged here and there between Alliance forces and Imperials trying to take back what they thought was rightfully theirs.

Leia had made a full recovery and was helping in the political aspect of things. And Shmi was healed but more mature now. She had her playful side and most of her innocent streak back, but it was clear to any who had known her before that there had been something lost in those weeks she'd been held captive. With help, Shmi, Luke and Mara had worked on Shmi's claustrophobia, and while it still bothered her to be in small spaces, she was learning to function through that fear. Luke was utterly proud of his daughter, and he loved her just as much as he had before her capture, if not more-so.

Luke's attention was bought back to fore as the medic looked up at Mara.

"You're fully dialated, Mara," the man informed her and he gestured to the pair of nurses, who began setting up the room to receive the new Skywalker children into the galaxy. "Let's get you positioned okay?"

"Luke, help me please?" Mara grunted as she tried to shift.

Luke assisted her as requested, keeping hold on her hand as everything was prepared. Then Mara gasped as another contraction hit, and Luke managed not to show his discomfort as Mara squeezed his hand. Even though it was his right, he still felt the tension. But it was nothing compared to what she was feeling, he knew.

"Alright, here we go," the doctor announced. "I need you to give me a good push, Mara..."

And so the next long minutes passed and yet Luke supported his wife through it all, thought when he heard the wails of his first newborn, he wanted so badly to hold them! But he didn't dare leave Mara's side, not when she had another baby to deliver.

"It's a boy!" the doctor announced for the parents to hear.

Luke smiled happily. "Ben."

"Okay, rest for a moment, Mara," the doctor instructed as the crying infant was handed off to a nurse for cleaning and checkups.

Mara collapsed back, panting. "No... kidding..." She huffed sarcastically.

Luke smirked, and kissed her head. "You're doing great, Love."

Mara lifted a brow, but her words were cut off by another contraction and she had to breathe through it, Luke helping her.

"I... don't think... Emry's in the mood... to wait..." Mara remarked.

Luke grinned, and then Mara cried out, clutching his hand. The doctor was there instantly, and the second round of birthing commenced, this one thankfully not taking as long. Soon Emry's cries rent the air, and the doctor needlessly announced their daughter's gender, though neither Luke nor Mara noted that aloud.

"Luke, would you like to cut her cord?" the man asked, and Luke stepped up to do as he'd asked.

Emry was flailing in the way of infants as the cold air touched her precious skin, and Luke kissed her head. "Hello Emry, my darling little girl."

The medic smiled gently and gave Emry to the second nurse while Mara was cleaned up and prepared to leave the birthing room. However, before they left, both nurses came over, each carrying a bundle of Skywalker.

"Here's little Ben," Luke's nurse said, handing over the green-swathed infant, who was already asleep.

"Hello Ben!" Luke whispered lovingly to his son's face. He noted the thin strands of bright red hair sticking out from Ben's cap, and he grinned up at Mara, who was just being given Emry, swathed in yellow. "Ben's got your hair, Love."

Mara smiled tiredly back, but there was no mistaking the love there. "Good to know he has my good looks," she quipped before turning her gaze to Emry. "It looks like Emry has your blond hair, but I think I see some red in there too."

Emry's eyes opened and Mara smiled lovingly upon her child. "Hi Sweetie. It's nice to see you on this side of things."

Luke's heart warmed at the scene, and he felt only the tiniest pang that this hadn't been the circumstances of Shmi's birth too. But he didn't regret those times either, not when they had given him his sweet Shmi.

"It's time to move you now, Mara." The doctor and nurses helped them into their new room and after some instructions and questions the family was left alone. Luke had made one request that Shmi be allowed in, and after great reluctance the doctor agreed.

"Shmi's going to love being a big sister," Luke told Mara, sitting on the edge of her bed with Ben still in his arms while his wife fed Emry.

"She already is," Mara replied with a laugh. "She has been helping me left and right, preparing for the twins, and anything else she can get into."

"She's just as excited as we are." Luke agreed. Emry finished eating and Mara burped the infant as the nurses had instructed, and then Ben woke, seemingly sensing his turn to nurse. Mara and Luke traded off and Luke cooed at Emry as she gazed up at him.

Luke reached out in the Force to his children, and felt them reach back instinctively. He caressed hem lovingly, feeling that they were healthy and happy. At that point the door opened and Luke smiled to see Shmi there.

"Dad? Mom?" she asked gingerly, not approaching.

"Come on in, Sweetheart," Luke told her, waving with his free hand for her to join him. "You're okay. But wash your hands and arms first, alright?"

Shmi did so and then moved to stand next to Luke, craning her neck to see her sibling that he held. "Who's this one?"

"Shmi, meet Emry; Emry, this is your big sister Shmi," Luke said with a slight catch in his voice. "She's been so excited to finally meet you and Ben."

Shmi smiled down at her sister, reaching out a finger before she paused. "Can I touch them?"

Luke chuckled softly. "So long as you're gentle, okay?"

Shmi nodded and ran a finger down Emry's cheek, and the infant's gaze shifted to lock onto Shmi. "Dad she's looking at me!"

Luke was smiling. "I see that. Would you like to hold Emry?"

Shmi hesitated. "I... I don't know how."

Luke kissed her head. "I'll teach you, come on." He led his eldest to a spot on the couch and then showed her how to hold a baby, emphasizing support of the head. He then handed Emry off to Shmi and sat back so the sisters could have a moment to bond.

Shmi was glowing and Luke hadn't ever seen her so... well, he didn't quite have the words, but she was so loving and so open, so happy. Luke knew she would indeed be the best sister Emry and Ben could have asked for.

Luke gazed around the room at his family, with Mara now snoozing with Ben, who'd stopped nursing and been burped, and then back to Shmi and Emry, the latter also falling asleep. His family was complete, and Luke thanked his lucky stars for that fact.

"I love you all," Luke whispered, gathering Shmi into a one-armed embrace after she'd handed him Emry again. Shmi snuggled into his side, eyes closing and Luke smiled happily.

"I love you all," he murmured again.

(A/N: Thank you so much for those who've stuck with me from the start. And I am sooo sorry for the long delays here at the end. But it's finished! Yay! ALSO, for those who may be curious, I have a tentative sequel in the works but I don't know when it will be out. I do have the "Hidden Moment's" collection going though- it's a collection of Luke/Shmi and some Mara and others one-shots- and I'm always open to ideas for that. Thank the Lord this trilogy is finished! I had lots of fun writing it, and hope to see you all in another story. :) )