Note: although this story was written by Mara, I edited it into paragraphs and added italics and such. Otherwise, the story's hers! "Mommy, mommy, will you come play with me and Jaina?" Jacen asked, tugging at Leia's dress.
"You said you would yesterday." Jaina chimed in.
Leia turned away from the pot she was stiring. She had promised the twins she would play with them today, since it was Han's turn to cook. Leia sighed. Where was he anyway? He was supposed to be doing the cooking today, not her!
"Later, mommy?" Jacen asked, interupting her thoughts momentarily.
"Yes, later..." she answered distractedly, letting her voice trail off. She was begining to worry about Han. He wasn't usually this late!
Just then Han burst into the room. "Hi Sweetheart!" he said, grinning and producing a handful of flowers."
"If you think that is going to make me forgive you for being late" Leia looked at his lopsided grin and laughed "You're right."
"Does this mean I get out of cooking?" Han asked teasing.
So that's what he was up to! Leia realized. Trying to get out of doing chores again! "Are you crazy?" she asked, trying to keep a straight face, "You're making up for this by taking my turn tomorrow!". They shared a good laugh.
Turning serious, Han said "I missed you."
Leia winked at him "I know.". They laughed and embraced. "I missed you too." Leia said in a serious voice before jokingly adding on "Scoundrel."
Han, who stood a head taller then Leia, glanced behind her and saw one of the elements on fire. He raced into the kitchen and grabbed the pot lid. Han slammed it down on the flames and put out the fire. He turned and grined at Leia, "Lunch?" he asked laughing.
She elbowed him gently in the ribs and laughed too. She had to admit the chared remains of what she had been cooking sure didn't look eatable. "Oh well" Han said, "I don't think the kids will mind eating out. Anyway, Lando invited us to lunch."
"No Imperial guests this time?" Leia asked, half serious.
"No Imperial guests, Leia. Trust me." Han answered.
"I do." Leia said seriously.
"I know." Han said leaning over to kiss her.
Suddenly Luke burst in. "Are you guys ok?! I smelt smoke and..." Luke shouted, his voice trailed off as he saw the sheepish look on his sister's face. He laughed, "I'll take that as a yes".
The moment ruined, Han turn to Luke and said, "Oh Luke, Lando invited us to lunch."
Having heard drifts of the conversation Jacen and Jaina burst into the room shouting "Uncle Luke! Uncle Luke!".
"Hi there." Luke said. The twins ran toward Luke, and jumped into his open arms, nearly knocking him over. When Luke regained his balance he exclaimed "Wow! Have you two ever grown! I've only been away a few weeks, and I swear you've grown a foot!".
"I have!" said Jaina exagerating the truth.
Just like her father, Leia thought. A lot like her father infact, especialy when it comes to dismanteling things, like Threepio!
Jacen, who was far more serious like Leia said "No we haven't Uncle Luke. We only grew a few inches."
Luke turned to Leia and noticed the bulge that was becomeing more and more obvious. "Another one?" Luke asked with a smile that reminded her of when he burst into the Death Star detention cell in stolen armour, and said "Oh, uh, I'm Luke Skywalker."
She smiled back and said "Yes, another one".
Luke laughed "You two are multiplying like rabbits..."
"And you don't even have a girlfriend." Han finished for him.
"Uh, yeah." Luke said, turning sheepish for a moment "That was sorta what I was getting at."
Han laughed "Just that's what you get for being a Jedi, insted of a handsome scoundrel like me!"
"Han!" Leia said turning to face him "Don't tease Luke like that."
"Sorry Sweetheart." Han said.
Luke looked at his sister and his brother in-law and said "You guys want me to watch the kids for a while?".
Before Leia could say anything Han answered "Sure." Looking at Leia he added "As long as they don't beat you up too much."
The twins gave a shout of joy "Yeah, Uncle Luke!".
Luke smiled "Race you to the playroom!" he shouted. The twins fell over each other trying to beat Luke, and each other, to the playroom.
Han and Leia listened for a moment and heard Jacen and Jaina exclaim at the same time "I win!", then burst into a fit of giggles.
Han turned to Leia "Now where were we?"
Leia blushed "Scoundrel." she whispered. They were about to kiss when a rather angry looking Mara burst into the room.
"Has Luke been here?" Mara asked, her anger fading slightly.
"Yes, why?" Leia told her.
"I was talking to him, and suddenly he just ran off shouting something about you." Mara answered, the anger returning to her voice.
"He in the playroom with the kids." Han said.
"Thank you." Mara said giving a mock bow "I'm in your debt."
"Well in that case..." Han started to say, before Mara cut him off.
"Very funny. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go have a nice word of two with Luke." she said, with barely disugised sarcasm. With that she stormed towards the playroom.
"She still want to kill him?" Han asked.
"No, I don't think so." Leia said "Infact they seem to be becoming friends."
"Uh huh." Han said disbelieving.
Leia laughed, "I mean it Han."
"It's pretty hard to believe. It was only a few months ago she was anouncing to everyone she was going to kill him." Han said pausing as he heard a loud thud. "I hope" Han said "that that's not what it sounded like."
Leia shook her head "Mara wouldn't just kill him like that. She promised."
"Promised what?" Han asked walking down the hall towards that playroom. Leia ran after him.
"Han, wait up!".
Han reached the door seconds before her, and opened it. He looked in and started laughing. The twins had tied Luke and Mara together, and they had falled in a heap on the floor. Mara was red faced, and obviously trying hard not to swear. Luke was trying to undo the rope with the Force.
"It won't work Skywalker." Mara said, her voice icy.
"Why not?" Luke asked. "Because..." Mara said trying to gesture to somewhere in the room, "There's ylsalamiri in here. You can't use the Force."
"Why didn't you tell me that in the first place?" Luke asked.
"I did!" Mara snapped back. Just then, they noticed Han and Leia. "Mind untieing us?" Mara asked.
Leia went over and untied the rope. "Jacen! Jaina! Get over here" she said.
"Uh oh. You're in trouble." the twins said to each other at the same time.
"Say you're sorry to Luke and Mara." Leia told them.
"Ok mommy." they said "We're sorry Uncle Luke. Sorry Mara."
Mara muttered something under her breath that Luke heard, and laughed at. "I mean it!" she said. Luke just laughed, then said something quitely to her. "Fine, I'll see you later." Mara said, turning to leave.
"Sorry about that." Luke said "Both of you."
Mara turned to face Luke, and gave him a half amused look. "How many times have you said that to me now today?" she asked.
"I don't know. I lost count after 20." Luke said grinning.
Suddenly, Leia, who had been sitting quietly until now straighted up, and said to Luke "You and Mara go talk. Me and Han can handle the kids fine."
"Well, alright, if you're sure," Luke said.
"I'm positive." Leia said, "Now shoo!" she added on jokingly.
Luke looked at Leia, and nodded "Ok.". With that Luke walked out of the room with Mara.
Han waited until Luke and Mara were out of ear shot to remark "So much for some quiet time."
"Oh Han!" Leia said in a good impression of exaperation, and Han laughed.
"Never knew you were a..." Han didn't get to finish his sentance when a loud bang, followed by a crash and a squish, came from the kitchen. Han and Leia bolted for the kitchen, and saw what had once been lunch all over the floor, ceiling, and walls.
Leia rolled her eyes, "Let me guess... When you put out the fire, you forgot to turn off the element, and take the pot lid off. Am I right?"
Han looked around the room that all the mess "Uh, yeah... That's about what happened, I'd say."
"What are you doing, Han?" Leia asked.
"Waiting for Luke" he said "I bet he'll be here, right... Now!"
As Han had predicted, Luke burst in, half dragging Mara behind him.
"We're fine Luke." Han and Leia said at the same time.
Mara, who Luke had finally let go of her arms, rubbed them. "Luke, did you have to grab me and drag me down here like that?" she asked.
"Sorry Mara, I guess this just isn't your day, is it?" Luke said, wishing there was something he could do to help cheer Mara up. Luke was just opening his mouth to say something to Mara, when Lando burst in.
"Why hello Miss Jade. May I have the pleasure of escorting you to lunch?".
"No, you may not." Mara said in an icy voice, and with a face directed at Lando that matched her tone perfectly.
"I'm escorting her." Luke said, before Mara seriously lost her temper at Lando. Luke nervous held his arm out to Mara, and much to his suprize, she accepted it.
Han laughed as Lando's mouth fell open. "What's that kid got that I don't?", Lando asked, his voice slightly mournful.
Han quickly changed the subject "Uh, so what's for lunch?"
Lando grinned, "Well, you'll just have to come find out. Mara, you're more then welcome to come."
"I'll bet I am." Mara muttered. "So's that all of us?" Lando asked as the twins ran into the room. They were just about to leave when they heard a loud wookie growl. "So this all of us now?" Lando asked again. Chewie looked around and gave an affermitve bark. With that Luke, Mara, Han, Leia, Jacen, Jaina, Chewie, and Lando walked toward where ever it was Lando planed on taking them.
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