Luke was understandably starstruck from Mara's unexpected kiss to his cheek. He couldn't contain the blush that flared up across his face as he was not expecting such a gesture. Moved to speechlessness at her affection, Mara had chuckled lightly, quite surprised herself at what she had just done - she wasn't really the cutesie type but it had felt right at the time. Besides, Luke was too adorable now he was flustered for Mara to be angry with herself.

After processing the initial shock, they finally turned their attention to making their way to the Jedi Temple.

Anakin had already gone straight there that evening to debrief them on the mission and inform them of what to expect next from the technicians working in the War Ship's data logs. The Council would hopefully still be there by the time they got to the Temple, after all, everyone was waiting in anticipation of the next day and many would likely need time to rest if they were coordinate any sort of attack on Maul. But Mara couldn't wait for the morning, she needed to get their assurance that she could accompany the Jedi to kill Maul, she wouldn't be able to sleep until she knew she could be there when the beast dies.

Luke borrowed a speeder bike from the senate hanger and waited as Mara climbed aboard behind him, making him blush hey again when she clasped him round the waist to hold on when they took off in the direction of the Jedi Temple.

Like before, a comfortable silence fell over them as they made their way through the Coressant night. Again, Mara looked out to the horizon, taking in the beauty of what the huge city looked like backdropped over a dark sky; she no longer felt unsafe here, before, all it represented was a world in which she didn't belong - she belonged on the other side where Maul resided - but now she was free, she could get used to a view like that, especially if it came with Luke as well.

When at last they reached the Temple, Mara felt like she was imposing on something she didn't quite understand. She used to be a sith and yet there she was, walking down the halls of the Jedi. If it wasn't for Luke assuring her that she was welcome, she would have believed that no one would want her there. But she had to be there either way, she needed to speak with the council immediately.

Luckily, as they had hoped, the council was still in session by the time they got to the main council camber. Anakin was finishing his recount if the mission to Oba Diah when the doors opened.

"Miss Jade, free of your shackles, you are," Grand Master Yoda mused with his old but warm smile.

"The Senate has freed her, all her charges dropped," Luke explained with an equally happy smile, prompting Mara to do the same as his optimism seemed to be catching.

"Congratulations," "Well done," "Welcome,"

The entire council seemed to be in agreement about this being a great occasion. Mara had initially thought she wouldn't be welcomed but they seemed to be the forgiving type. Not everyone in the council seemed thrilled by her release, Master Windu among them as the one Mara recognised from when she had first been brought to the capital, but those that didn't seem overly excited about her release still congratulated her nonetheless.

Anakin was still in two minds about the ex-sith. On the one hand she had played her part in the murder of Obi-Wan, but on the other hand, it was made quite clear she was a brainwashed puppet throughout it all. Anakin had already sworn his revenge on Maul, there was no point in taking vengeance on Mara Jade as well and treating her with resentment, besides, Anakin could see that Luke was - somehow - friends with the former sith apprentice and Anakin had always trusted his son's judgement. Just as Anakin had accepted Han into the fold, he would apparently have to do the same with Mara Jade, after all, the term 'friendship' seemed a little tame for the connection between the two.

"Master Yoda," Mara bowed her head slightly in respect as Anakin moved away from the center to sit in his chair amongst the rest of the council, giving the floor to the former sith, "I came here to ask something of you... I want to be a part of the mission to destroy Maul."

"Revenge, you seek?" The old master replied, without either intrigue or resentment, less of a question and more of a statement as he had probably already figured that out.

"I would call it justice." She answered honestly, there was no point denying it, she may have not believed it most of her life but this was Master Yoda, one of the most powerful Jedi in the galaxy, there was no use lying.

"Mmmmm," he mused quietly, scratching his head in thought, "More to ask, you have?"

"Yes... I never thought I'd see the day when I was finally free, and now that I am, I can start life afresh... I want to put the past behind me and become a Jedi, if you will have me..." She admitted a little shyly, hoping her genuine request would be taken seriously and she was relived when that seemed to be the case.

Some of the Council membered exchanged glances, either of skepticism or of agreement whilst others debated in hushed whispers. Mace Windu seemed rather outraged by this request but nonetheless turned to Yoda for confirmation. The old Grand Master sat in his chair, silently contemplating the young force user as he debated her proposal to join the Order, until finally, he raised his hand for silence.

"The way of the Jedi, revenge is not," he started in his croaky voice, making Mara momentarily lose her optimism and believing her proposal was rejected, "But justice... Hand in hand, the two go... Allow your appointment on the mission to finally vanquish Maul, I shall..."

Again, the council broke out in hushed whispers and retorts. Both Mara and Luke tried to hide their relived smiles but just as she was about to open her mouth to speak again, Yoda beat her to it.

"Accompanied by the Skywalkers, you will be. Your great trial, this battle will be, only then, a Jedi, will you become."

***

Coressant had always been a restless city, even in the late hours of the night - a time which most beings in the galaxy would expect still and silence - it still bustled on. The sky may be dark but the lights from every building and passing vessels lit up the horizon and nothing seemed to change from daytime; there was still the same amount of people awake, the same amount of ships speeding by and the same amount of business in the air. Coressant may be beautiful at first glance, all shining and glittering in the sunlight or moonlight, but it was rarely ever peaceful.

Luke's first thought when he reflected about the concept of peaceful, was the small holidays they would take to Naboo.

Before the war, before Maul dominated all, before they grew up and knew the galaxy better, Luke and Leia would love their little trips to their mother's home planet, it was always so peaceful there. When there was no clouds in the sky, the sun beating down on them and the light glistening off the lake, everything seemed perfect, simple.

The twins could play for hours on the beach or swimming through the crystal water. Luke had always cherished those memories with his family, they were some of his favourite memories. But even when young, the twins could tell that something was not always right with perfect.

Luke had always known that his mother and father carried burdens, even if he didn't know what they were until later. He knew vaguely about the Clone Wars and the toll it took on the galaxy, some more than others. Ever since he and his sister were small, they had been told by other about how important their parents were; their father was a war hero and their mother was one of the most influential political figures in all of the Senate. Though he couldn't place it when little, looking back on it, Luke knew that sometimes, he could look into his parents eyes and see something untanglible, something more and mystic. Anakin was a battle hardened warrior and Padmé was a burdened politician who had probably seen the best and worst from all sorts of people.

So Luke cherished those peaceful memories of his family in those fleeting moments of peace. He held them close in hope that there could be more moments like this in the future after the war.

But Luke had always been more of an optimist than most. Some believed that there could never be happiness in times of war and though Luke had to agree that war savaged any happiness from the galaxy, he finally grew to the fact that it did mean all of it was gone. Luke found that there was always small pockets of peace here and there and he had learned early on to cherish each of those moments.

So there Luke stood, in his apartment, looking down at the warm smile of Mara Jade.

Before leaving the Jedi Temple, Luke had checked with the technicians in the hanger bay to see their progress on extracting a flight plan from Maul's war ship. All in all, it would be a few hours until the exact location Maul's Project Krystal ship would be discovered, but already, the Jedi Cruisers were being readied for the battle ahead. Many other nations were also reading their ships for the oncoming mission. Padmé had already volunteered her own fleet of fighter ships and would accompany them aboard the cruisers; Minister Korkie had also promised the support of the Mandalorians in both revenge for their destroyed moon and in revenge of Obi-Wan's death, his father's death.

But in the meantime, they needed to conserve their strength, and Mara needed a place to stay until everything had been sorted out.

Both Luke and Leia had senate apartments near to their parents. With Mara's trial having been so late, when Luke entered the building, he sensed that most people were asleep already. If he concentrated, he could single out individuals like his mother, asleep after an entire day in the senate, his father, still awake and alert but near to giving into sleep, Leia, already sound asleep with Han next to her. They were all so peaceful.

Like before, they didn't talk much on their way to his apartment, they didn't really need to. Both were exhausted from their day, so they stayed in comfortable silence.

Luke had hurried off into one of the rooms to try and find Mara a spare set of clothes but by the time he came back into the living room, she had already curled herself up on the sofa and was sleeping peacefully.

She looked so much different now that she was asleep, so unburdened. Like his parents, Luke had always seen an untanglible look in Mara's eyes like they were far older than they should be for her age. She was usually so taunt and rigid, even when she allowed herself to be vulnerably relaxed, she still held herself as stiff as a statue. But now she seemed so relaxed, her features softened and her body limp from fatigue.

Luke had no doubt she was usually the type to suffer from nightmares, force knows he did, as well as his sister and father. When first they had learnt to work together, back in that cave they had survived from, she had only ever slept in hour intervals like she had some sort of force alarm clock in her mind, telling her when to wake up again. Luke had guessed long ago why she had done that; she had never liked showing vulnerability, she had loathed everything she did in that cave, from showing pain to accepting help, the last thing she wanted to do was show the 'enemy' that she had nightmares.

But Luke was certain that, at least for tonight, she wouldn't have to worry about nightmares. He just had a hunch, she wouldn't be disturbed at all that night, and that was a relief for Luke, the thought of that relaxed sleepy smile on her face begining to fade was worrisome. But, thankfully, that didn't happen.

Seeing her so at peace, at least for the moment, brought warmth to his heart and reminded him why the war was worth winning.

He couldn't blame her for collapsing immediately to sleep, she had been through a hell of a day. She started the day a fugitive and was now (nearly) a free woman. She deserved a decent night's rest.

Luke tossed a spare blanket over the redhead before he gingerly crouched down beside her and dared to kiss her on the forehead. Knowing her, she was probably usually a light sleeper, ever the assassin, but she didn't even flinch at his contact. Luke felt so flattered that she no longer saw him as a threat, even in her sleep. With that, Luke retired for the night, ready to take on the battle that would ensue the next day.

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