DISCLAIMER:  Okay okay, here's my story.  I wrote it in June of ‘99 and  I had this huge mess of losing it, then I found it, but it was all ugly and something had happened to it . . . big bombad mess.
 

  But after a while, I got it back to working order so here it is!  And I lost my pretty pretty
disclaimer in the process of all that, so I dont 'have one here!  Too bad! Okay wait--I have to think of one . . . Okay, here it is:
    All of these characters belong to Timothy Zahn and the great man in
flannel . . . George Lucas . . . But I give credit to myself for Elori, Tava
(Tavitha, same thing), Nathan, Natalie, and my brother for the name (only the
name, mind you) of Senator Win Dex (You may laugh now.  Yes, I know you want
to.).  There . . . I made a new disclaimer . . . phew . . .

Email me (Mara Jade Skywalker) : PadawanMJS@marajade.net, or MaraJade@rebelspy.net
Put my storie's name in the subject or I probably won't read it.  DON'T post
this or any of my other stories anywhere without my permission first.  GOT
THAT?!  Yes . . . good . . .  And no, I will not take the time to write the
other names of those stories here.  My name and email should be enough to
identify them.  Besides, I'm way to lazy to do it.  Yes, you heard me, Lazy.

Summary:
    ADVENTURES OF A VISION PART ONE:    GROWING EMOTIONS
    This takes place roughly about 10 years after ROTJ
    Luke and Mara have been allies for 5 years.  Luke and Callista are long
gone as an item (Thank God).  Luke and Mara are slowly realizing what they
mean to eachother...
 
 
 

    The lone sun of Coruscant rose silently above the Imperial Palace,
bathing it in soft oranges and yellows.  A soft breeze tugged at Luke
Skywalker’s hair and robes.  He stood against the waist-high wrought iron
railing just outside of his quarters.  Luke closed his eyes and took a deep
and refreshing breath of the beautiful Coruscant morning.
    For Luke, it was going to be a wonderful day.  One without worries or
strife.  The academy he’d set up a few years ago was doing fine without him.
He was not needed at the moment and for once was glad at the leave of
responsibilities that so often clung tightly to his back.
    Luke knew the responsibilities would be back soon, but for at least one
day he could relax and take a much needed rest.  He took one final breath of
the new morning and proceeded inside to get ready for the breakfast Leia had
planned for him to have with her family.
    Luke arrived at the Solo residence about 8:30 and was greeted lovingly by
his sister.
    “Leia, it’s good to see you again,” Luke said while giving Leia a warm
embrace.
    They parted and Leia looked up at her brother with big brown eyes and a
warm smile on her face.
    “We’ve all missed you Luke,”  she said.  “I hope you’ll stay longer this
time.”
    Luke smiled and gave a small laugh.  “Well I’m not really needed anywhere
at the moment so I guess you get your wish.”
    Leia smiled again and left for the kitchen.  Luke watched her go and was
greeted by his brother-in-law, Han Solo.
    “Hey!”  Han said with a smile.  “How ya’ doing kid?  The twins and Anakin
have been dying to see you lately.”
    Han gave Luke a playful slap on the back and as if on cue, all of Leia’s
kids ran out of a nearby hall  and rushed towards their uncle.
    “Lukie!  Lukie!” Anakin, the youngest cried out.
    Little Anakin jumped into Luke’s arms while Jaina and Jacen hugged at
Luke’s waist.
    “Whoa!” Luke cried out as Anakin nearly knocked the wind out of him.
That little four-year old could pack a punch if he wanted.
    “Hey you guys,”  Luke asked as he reached a hand down and tousled Jacen’s
hair.  “How are you doing?”
    “We’re fine Uncle Luke!” both twins said simultaneously.    Luke smiled a
toothy smile down at his niece and nephew.
    “All right you three,” Han interrupted.  “Come one let’s get going to the
kitchen and see what your mother has ready for breakfast.”
    Han led the two chattering twins to the table while Luke walked, still
carrying Anakin, towards the table as well.  He listened to a fairly short
story of how Anakin had lost his favorite toy and had used the Force to
retrieve it.  It filled Luke with joy because he always loved to listen to
his niece and nephews.
    As he set Anakin down in his chair and took his own, he wondered about
his own life.  Why he’d never had children with a woman for the sole reason
that he couldn’t find anyone to stay with him.  He looked at Leia’s kids
fondly and wondered if he would ever get a family to call his own.
 

    Leia gave everyone their plate and sat down for a moment to watch her
family before they began their meal.  Han was trying to settle Anakin in his
chair and stop Jacen and Jaina from hitting their utensils on the table at
the same time.  She smiled and wished Chewie was here.  But he had gone off
the Kashyyyk for a needed visit to his family.
    Leia noticed that she didn’t hear Luke saying anything so she looked over
to where her brother sat.  He was sitting quietly in his seat, watching his
niece and nephews.  He seemed filled with wonder and something else . . .
longing, was it?  He must of sensed her watching him and he turned his eyes
to her and smiled.
    That wasn’t good enough for Leia.
    *What is it?*  she asked.
    He sent her soft reassurances through the Force.
    *I’ll tell you later*
    Nodding her head silently with agreement, Leia began her breakfast.
 

    The kids had left for their own form of education after breakfast.  Jacen
and Jaina to kindergarten and Anakin to preschool.  Han was talking with Luke
in the family room and Leia came in and sat next to her husband.  Luke seemed
to pause mid sentence as Han’s arm draped loosely over Leia’s shoulders.  A
sad shadow seemed to fall over Luke’s face.  Han didn’t seem to notice, but
Leia sure did.  She hoped Luke would tell her what was bothering him soon.
    “--academy’s been doing great without me,”  Luke continued,  “so I just
decided that it was time for a vacation,” he finished.
    “That’s great,”  Han said.  “Beause the kids sure have missed you since
you last came over...Oh when was it?  When the Old Republic formed?”
    Luke smiled at Han’s joke.  “Oh I haven’t been gone that long have I?”
    “I don’t know kid,”  Han said warily.  “It sure seemed like it...I mean
after what happened at Nam Chorios you’ve kinda stayed away.  Been keeping to
yourself a lot.”
    Han’s statement hit Leia, but she wasn’t sure how it would affect Luke.
He looked towards her and spoke.
    “It’s all right Leia...I can handle it.”
    Leia didn’t seem to think so, but she asked again
    *Is that what’s bothering you?*
    All she got was *I don’t know.  Later okay?*
    An awkward silence hung in the air for a minute and Han broke the silence
first.
    “Well don’t worry kid,”  Han assured him.  “You’re young and I’m sure
there’s another girl out there that’s just waiting to fall in love with you.
But listen I gotta go try to make some of those repairs on the Falcon.
Without Chewie they’ll take nearly three times as long as they would have.
Besides, I’ve got nothing else to do for the next few hours.  I’ll catch you
later Luke okay?  Bye Leia.”
    Han nodded his head to Luke and smooched Leia on the lips.
    “Sure,” was all Luke said.
    Leia looked over at Luke after Han had left and saw his face looking down
on the carpeting.  After the door had closed she got up and sat next to her
brother.
    “Luke, tell me what’s wrong.”
    He picked up his head slowly and looked at her with bright blue eyes.
    “Leia...what’s it like?”  Luke asked quietly.  “Being married to Han and
having your kids?”
    That question surprised Leia.  It wasn’t exactly what she thought she’d
hear.
    “Well...it’s wonderful waking up to the one you love every morning,”
Leia explained.  “And having the kids around really helps when I feel
stressed.  They know when to stay quiet or to leave mommy alone.  It’s not
something I can really describe to you though.”
    Leia waited and felt bad for having a family because Luke didn’t.  Sure
he had herself, Han and their children, but he had no one to call his own.
But he will, she told herself.
    “Leia,” Luke started.  “Do you think I’ll ever have what you have?  Do
you think I’ll feel that same happiness that you feel with Han and your
children?”
    He sounded sad and was looking down into his hands.  Leia put her arm
around her brother and held his hand.
    “Luke, I know you’ll find what I’ve found,”  Leia said.  “Han’s right.
There probably is a girl out there that wants to find you as much as you want
to find her.  Then you can start your own family and we’ll go visit them
okay?”
    Luke smiled.
    “Yeah,”  He agreed.  “I guess you’re right.  But Leia...I think I’ve
already found someone.”
    Leia’s eyes opened wide.  “Who Luke?”  she asked.  “I mean...sorry.  You
don’t have to tell me.”
    Luke laughed a little.  “It’s all right.  But maybe I’ll tell you later
though.  In the meantime, let me get caught up on the news.”
    Luke turned on the holovid and flipped though the various channels until
he found what he was looking for.
    Leia began to clean up the kitchen.  Tomorrow she’d have to go back to
her Presidential office and reinstate some senate member who’d left for some
unknown reason.  Where was he from?  Niori?  She’d find out tomorrow.
    A small beeping noise from the comm stopped Leia and she walked over to
see who it was.  The small picture showed a beautiful woman who Leia hadn’t
seen in months.  She was slightly taller than Leia, but the holo’s projection
made the woman look much, much smaller.  Her fiery red hair and sharp green
eyes seemed to demand authority even from the comm unit.
    “Hello Mara Jade,”  Leia said nodding.  “May I help you?”   Leia thought
she felt something emanating from Luke’s mind, but she ignored it.  His head
was still turned, but he knew who it was.  He wasn’t fooling her.
    “Leia, I’ve tried calling Luke at his apartment, but no one answers,”
Mara said.  “I have someone here who is a prime candidate for his Jedi
academy.  I just want to see if he agrees with me.  Do you know where I can
find him?”
    “As a matter of fact, Mara,”  Leia said.  “Luke’s right here with me.  If
you’d like to come up I’m sure he’d be more than happy to check that for
you.”
    Mara seemed to look over Leia’s shoulder at the back of the head she saw
poking up from the couch.  Leia turned, but she already knew it was Luke who
she saw.
    “Yes that’s Luke,”  she confirmed for Mara.  “You’ll come up then?”
    Mara turned her eyes back to Leia.
    “Yes I’ll come up,”  Mara said.  “And I’ll bring the candidate with me.”
    With a nod of her head, she was gone.  Leia turned her head towards Luke
who was trying to look inconspicuous at the couch.
    “Yes, Luke?”
    “I didn’t say anything,” Luke said, still staring at the screen.
    “No,”  Leia said.  “But you  seemed to want to say something when Mara
called in.”
    Luke still didn’t turn his head, but answered Leia.
    “I did?”  he asked.  “Oh well I didn’t want to say anything.”
    Sure you didn’t, Leia thought.  Could that be the one he’s found?  Mara?
The more she thought about it, the more it made sense.  Mara had a sense of
humor, she was very beautiful, tough, friendly and much more.  Well at least
she was those things around Luke.  And she would have to get them to stand
next to each other just to see how well they looked together.
    “Leia,”  Luke asked suspiciously.  “What are you thinking about?”
    “Huh?  Oh nothing,” she said with a smile.
    Luke looked at her with a little confusion, but let it pass.
    “Mara’s coming here?”  Luke asked.
    He sounded casual, but Leia’s mind was ticking and it sounded more like a
wishful thought.
    “Yes she is,”  Leia confirmed.  “She’s bringing a person who she thinks
may have the potential to be a Jedi.”
    Luke seemed puzzled for a moment.
    “Leia, she doesn’t have to bring someone to me to do that,”  Luke said.
“Kyp could do it well enough.  I thought I already told her that so he could
get more practice.”
    “Well she’s already on her way,”  Leia said.  “You can tell her when she
comes up.”
 

    Mara Jade waited while the turbolift took her and her passenger along to
the President’s residence floor.  Her passenger was named Elori and she was
someone Mara had met while on Corellia awhile back.  First thing she thought
of when she found out the girl was Force-sensitive was to take her to Luke.
But hadn’t he told her to take new candidates to that Durron kid?
    Well Mara wasn't up to taking Elori all the way to Yavin.  Besides, maybe
seeing Luke would bring out the best in her...or the worst.  The turbolift
doors opened up onto the floor Mara was looking for.
    “Come on,” she told Elori.
    The woman was a girl really.  Only 18 years old, but she had the
potential to be a good Jedi if not particularly strong.  Elori followed and
they stopped when they arrived at the Solo’s door.
    “This is the President's apartment?” the younger girl asked with
wonderment.
    Mara had never really thought of it that way.  It was Leia’s room, sure.
But it was only Luke’s sister.  Nothing special to Mara, but apparently huge
to this little one.
    “Yeah, Luke’s here and I thought I’d bring you here instead of having him
go back all the way to his apartment,”  Mara said.  “You’ll be fine.  He’s
really rather nice.”  She was trying to calm down Elori, but wasn’t too sure
she was doing a good job of it.  Elori only swallowed and nodded.  Then Mara
knocked.
 

    Leia heard the knock on the door and waited until Luke would come to her
side before opening it.  But he remained at his seat on the couch.
    “Luke!”  Leia said.  “Get over here and greet your guests!”     Luke
looked up, seemed ready to argue, but turned off the holovid and walked to
Leia’s side.
    “Better?”  he asked.
    Leia looked him over to make sure he looked presentable and nodded.  Then
she opened the door.
 

    “I wonder what’s taking so long,” Mara asked aloud.
    “Maybe they just left,”  Elori answered.
    Mara looked down at Elori.
    “Oh no,”  Mara said.  “You wanted to come so I took you.  Don’t freak out
on me.  They’re just normal people on vacation.  Luke won’t bite your head
off and neither will Leia.  Just relax okay?  You’ll see just how normal the
Skywalker family can get when they aren’t saving the universe okay?”
    Elori seemed to digest that, but before she could answer, Leia answered
the door smiling with Luke waiting silently at her side.
    “Hello Mara,”  Leia said with that smile on her face.  “And is this who
you spoke about?”   Leia turned to the younger woman by Mara.
    “Yes, this is Elori,”  Mara said.  “Elori--” she looked at Leia then to
Luke, “This is Leia and Luke.  The most famous brother and sister pair in the
galaxy.”
    Leia nodded and put out her hand to Elori.
    “Hello Elori,”  Leia said.  “I’m delighted to meet you.”
    “Me too,”  Elori’s small form said, smiling her best while being scared
half out of her mind.
    Luke extended his hand to Elori while also extending that annoying calm
he seemed to bring everywhere he went.
    “Elori,” he said bowing his head respectfully.
    Those deep blue eyes probably probing Elori for the Jedi potential Mara
had said she’d found.  They shook hands in a friendly shake and Elori shook
it while she gazed wonderingly at both him and Leia at the same time.
    “Won’t you come in?” Leia asked stepping aside.
    Mara and Elori both stepped in and Mara went to take a seat in the small
lounging area by the door.  Leia pointed for Luke and Elori to do the same.
    “Would either if you like something to drink?”  Leia asked.
    “No thank you,” said Mara.
    She looked over at Elori who was still staring at the Skywalker twins
with a gaping mouth.  She gave her a small nudge and Elori seemed to come
back to the world.
    “Huh?”  Elori asked.  “Oh-um...sorry.  No thank you Madam President.”
    Leia smiled and gave a short laugh.
    “You can call me Leia,”  Leia said.  “And I’m sure you can call Luke by
his first name too.”  Leia looked over at Luke who nodded his head.
    “I’d really appreciate it if you would Elori, seeing as how I’m going to
call you by your name,”  Luke said, a smile on his lips.  “It’s only fair,
right?”
    *trying to calm the kid down are you Skywalker?*
    Luke looked up at Mara and smiled.  Something inside of her seemed to
melt, but she held up and hoped no one noticed.
    *Sure am, Mara.*
    “So, Elori, how old are you and where do you come from?”  Luke asked as
casually as he could to prevent the child from exploding with nervousness.
    “I’m 15 sir-I mean Luke,”  Elori said.  “I’m from Corellia.”
    “Like Han then?”  Luke asked.  “Well I’ve found the potential I’m looking
for and you can head on over to the academy whenever you want to begin your
training.  Kyp’s not with another student at the moment, so I’m sure he can
train you.”
    Elori’s mouth gaped even further.
    “Han Solo ?  Kyp Durron ?”  she asked.
    Luke laughed a little.
    “Yes,”  Luke said.  “And don’t be so amazed, please.  It kind of doesn’t
help much.”
    Elori nodded her head.
    “Well I’ll go arrange for a transport to take her to Yavin, Luke, or
Mara, do you want to take her?”  Leia asked and silently hoped she’d stay so
she could find out if she really was the one Luke’s heart went to these days.

    *I heard that Leia*  Luke’s thoughts drifted into her mind.
*I thought I was hiding it from you*  Leia returned.
    She could feel Luke’s light laughter. *apparently not enough*
    “Well I’d take her but there’s a few things I want to take care of before
I leave,”  Mara said.  “I’m sure Elori wouldn’t mind taking a transport would
you?  You could go out with the next shipment over there.”
    Mara looked at Elori who nodded in agreement.
    “Okay then,”  Leia said getting up.  “I’ll go get that transport.”
 

    Shortly after, Elori had left out on the transport and Leia and Luke were
left alone with Mara.  Leia tried to watch the behavior of her brother
towards Mara, but he wasn’t speaking and Mara looked pretty bored.
    “So, Mara,”  Leia asked trying to start a conversation.  “What’s all that
stuff that you have to do?  If you don’t mind me asking that is.”
    “Oh I don’t mind,”  Mara said.  “I really have nothing planned at all.  I
just didn’t want to go to Yavin.  That place kind of depresses me.  People
always wearing the same thing.”     Leia looked to Luke, but if Mara was
trying to annoy him, it wasn’t working.  Actually Luke seemed sort of
reluctant to talk.      *A bit shy are we today?* she sent Luke.
    *stop it* she got in return.
    Luke really had it bad for Mara if he got this touchy with Leia.  Well
then Luke would hate her for this one.
    “Mara,”  Leia asked casually.  “You and Luke haven’t been together for
awhile...why don’t the two of you go out and have dinner or something later
today?”
    She could feel Luke’s emotions turn to that of a scared kitten, but she
said nothing else.  Mara on the other hand seemed to digest it a little.  She
looked to Luke with those sharp green eyes.
    “Well what do you say Skywalker?”  she asked.  “I’m up to it.”
    Leia wasn’t expecting it to work.  This came to her as something of a
shock.  She looked to Luke and saw him staring at Mara.  Did Mara see how
much he cared for her?  Probably not.
    “Um...sure I’ll go,”  Luke said.  “We can meet later at my apartment to
arrange something.”
 

    Luke couldn’t believe what he’d just done.  Was it a date?  He’d kill
Leia later.  Right now he had to have dinner with Mara  and not embarrass
himself in the process.  The door suddenly opened and Han came in with the
kids in front.  They ran to see their uncle Luke again, then ran towards the
kitchen to eat a snack.  Luke was glad for the momentary interruption.  He
watched Mara curiously as she looked at the kids eating their sandwiches.
She looked at them strangely, but Luke couldn’t place the expression.
    “Mara,”  Luke asked.  “You want to go now to see which restaurant we
should go to?”
    Might as well get started now, he thought.
    “Sure thing,”  Mara said getting up.  “We’ll see you later Leia.  Bye
Han.”
    Luke said his good-byes as well and they were out the door.
    Leia looked to Han and smiled.
    “I think Luke and Mara like each other,”  Leia told her husband.
    Jaina came up to her mother and tugged at her pants.
    “Mama?”
    “Yes honey?”
    “Is Uncle Luke going on a date with Mara Jade?”  Jaina asked.
    Leia smiled.  Her daughter was so cute.
    “I think he is,”  Leia told her.
    “Well why mama?”  Jaina asked.  “Does he like her?  Are they boyfriend
and girlfriend?  I have a boyfriend!”
    Leia and Han laughed.  Han answered his daughter this time.
    “I think your mother’s right,”  Han said.  “They might like each other,
but I don’t think they’re boyfriend and girlfriend.  At least not yet.  And
what’s this about you having a boyfriend?”
    “Oh nothing...”  and she was gone to eat her sandwich.
    “I kinda hope that wouldn’t come for at least 5 more years,”  Han said
watching his daughter.
    Leia laughed at Han.
    “Don’t worry,” she told him rubbing his back.  “I’m sure it’ll be over by
the time he gives her a mud pie.”
 

    The walk to Luke’s apartment seemed to take all day.  He couldn’t stop
thinking about the woman walking beside him.  She was so close he could hear
her breathing as she took each step.  He looked to the side to see her face
better.  But he couldn’t read anything from it.  So he tried to send little
tendrils of the Force to feel what was on her mind.  Immediately her head
snapped up and she looked at him.
    “I thought I told you not to do that,”  Mara said.
    “Sorry,”  Luke apologized.  “Just trying to see how you were.”
    “Well don’t worry about me,”  Mara said turning her attention ahead of
her again.  “I should be asking you how you’re enjoying your vacation.”
    At least she’s talking to me, Luke thought.  They had reached his door by
then, so he opened it up, allowed Mara to enter first, then he followed and
switched on the lights.
    “Well it’s been good so far,”  Luke said closing the door.  “There’s
nobody trying to take over the universe for me to stop.  Kind of preventing
us from working together don’t you think?”
 

    Mara looked at Luke and thought for a moment.  Was he missing her as much
as she missed him?  Probably just a joke.
    “Yeah I guess so,”  she told him.
    Seeming a little disappointed with her answer, Luke walked over to a
small data pad on a nearby desk and started to flip through something.
    “Is that the restaurant listing?”  Mara asked as she came up to look
besides Luke’s shoulder.
    Luke’s shoulder seemed to tense as she came close, but he talked anyway.
    “Yeah,”  Luke confirmed.  “Tell me if you see anything you like.”
    They scrolled down a few listings when Mara found one that was close and
had some good looking food.
    “That one,”  she said as she reached a finger past Luke’s arm to get it
to point at the one she wanted.
    “You sure?”  he asked.
    Mara nodded.
    “I’ll call them then and make the reservations.”
    While Luke was calling Mara sat down on Luke’s sofa and noticed it was
far newer than Leia’s was.  Or maybe she just used hers more.  Probably the
latter.  She looked around Luke’s apartment and realized she’d never been in
here before.  There was hardly any furniture, but there was enough to remind
someone that there was a person in fact living here.
    The place was set up differently from Leia’s, but that was due mostly to
the lack of furniture and items in the apartment.  He had a tall shelf filled
with an old brown folded robe, a Jedi holocron, a few framed photos, and
other miscellaneous items.  There were some pictures with just him and Leia,
or with the kids, with Han, or with the whole family.  She wondered if there
was more of a personality in his bedroom.  The lounging area was a bit boring.
    “Luke, where’s your bathroom?”  Mara asked.
    He didn’t even turn around.  Probably too busy trying to arrange things
with the restaurant.
    “Oh nevermind,”  she said getting up from the couch.  “I’ll find it
myself.”
    Like Hoth I’ll go to the bathroom, she thought.  She got up and walked
down a small hallway.  Luke didn’t even notice her leaving.  She passed the
bathroom and decided to take a look inside anyway.  She was curious after
all...and out of Luke’s sight.  She slipped inside and looked around.  It was
probably even more of a snoozer than the lounging area.  A lone mirror stood
above a refresher with some shaving supplies beside it and a few towels
draped on a rack.
    She decided to go into his bedroom, but before she got there, she noticed
another door.  Funny...Luke doesn’t live with anyone does he?  Oh
well...we’ll find out.  She opened the door as quietly as she could and found
that the room was empty.  That blew the big surprise she thought she’d find.
There was nothing in the room except for a window on the opposite side of the
door.
    She closed off that door and went to the room that was undoubtedly
Luke’s, plus it was the only door left.  She opened the door and wondered why
this room was much more decorative than the outside.  He had more shelves and
bookcases, another desk, and a lone bed.  The desk had a computer on top with
some scattered papers.  There was a sliding glass door to the side of the
desk that led out onto a small balcony.
    Mara looked at the pictures on the shelves.  There were by far more here
than there was outside.  More of him with his niece and nephews, Han, and
Leia.  But there was something else.  There were lots of him with his
students.  Mara smiled at them all.  There were some that were obviously
taken by students.  One of Luke doing a handstand on the Yavin 4 soil with no
boots on, some dirty mud-streaked pants on, and a tank top.  There was
another of Luke with the same outfit on taking his lightsaber off and getting
ready for a practice fight with Kyp Durron.
    There’s none of me, Mara thought sadly.  Of course there isn’t though.
He’s not as close to you as he is with his students or family.  Probably not
even when he was training you, she told herself.
    Funny though.  There were no pictures visible of Gaeriel or Callista.  Or
maybe Luke just kept them in a safe place.
    Mara walked out onto the balcony and enjoyed the breathtaking view.  She
hadn’t looked at Coruscant’s sky like this since Luke had given her his
father’s lightsaber so long ago.  It felt like ages ago.  She stood there for
a few moments, taking in all the times that she and Luke had spent together.
Not a lot of casual time.  Well that’s what this dinner was for, right?
    A quiet cough made her turn around and she saw Luke standing quietly at
the door to the balcony.
    “Making yourself at home?”  Luke said as he walked slowly over to Mara’s
side.
    Mara was embarrassed at having invaded his things like she’d done.
    “I’m sorry,”  she apologized.  “I just wanted to see if all your things
were as boring as they seemed out in the lounge.  They’re not.”
    Luke smiled and leaned out on the railing.
    “It’s beautiful isn’t it?” he said taking in a deep breath of the
approaching sunset.
    “Yes it is,”  Mara said looking out at the clouds.  “You have a wonderful
view of the dawn I’ll bet.”
    Luke smiled again.
    “I sure do.”
    Mara felt at peace way up here.  Luke’s apartment was almost to the top
level, much like Leia’s, but looking down made Mara feel safe.  Was it
because she had Luke next to her?  Did she trust him?  Don’t overload your
brain, Mara, she told herself.
    “Well I made those reservations,”  Luke said breaking the silence that
had fellen.  “We should leave in about two hours.  You made an excellent
choice in choosing.”
    “Thank you,” Mara sad still looking at the streets so far down below.
The cloud cars and taxis were bustling about and she could see ships landing
on the docking ports nearby.
    “If you don’t mind me asking...”  Luke asked casually.  “Where are you
going to stay while you’re here?  Or are you leaving tomorrow morning?”
    That last part sounded a bit sad, hopeful maybe?  Should I stay?  Mara
thought.  Yeah.  Why not?
    “I guess I’ll be staying in my ship,”  Mara said.  “I’ve got some
supplies there.”
    “Well...”  Luke said cautiously.  “I’ve got an extra room...”       Mara
just laughed a little.
    “Are you inviting me to stay?”
    Luke looked at her.  Then laughed a little himself.
    “Yes I am,”  Luke said.  “Would you like to?  Stay here with me for
awhile I mean.”
    Mara didn’t see why she shouldn’t.  She could get to know him
better...see what was behind the Jedi mask.
    “Okay,”  she said.  “Just let me go now to my ship and pick up some
things to bring.”
    Mara left and Luke was alone on the balcony.
    I wonder what parts of my room she was looking through...Luke thought.
He went around to his shelves and picked up a photo of himself with his niece
and nephews on the beach.  They’d made it a point that day to have a sand war
and to make sure their Uncle Luke didn’t win.  He smiled when he remembered
the warm memories.  He walked to his desk and opened a drawer.  Inside was a
small photo of Luke with Mara.  None of them were staring at the camera
because one of Luke’s students had taken it while they weren’t looking.  Mara
was sitting on the grass with her face in the view of the camera and Luke was
instructing her to lift up a small animal from the grass in front of her.
    It was a beautiful photo.  One that Luke wished he had put up on his
shelves so Mara could of seen.  Well maybe I’ll put it in her room when she
gets settled in, he thought.  He went to call someone about putting a new bed
in the spare room.  He got that and a small bookcase for Mara to put her
things on along with a small dresser.
    A few minutes after the deliverers had put in Mara’s furniture, Luke
heard the door in the front open up.  It was Mara.  Not wanting her to see
the picture just yet, Luke put it in his pocket and decided to wait until
she’d gone off to sleep or something.
    “Luke?”  He heard her from by the door.
    *Over here* he sent through the Force.
    She walked into the small room with a single bag in her grasp.  He looked
at her expectantly to see what she thought of it.
    “Luke, it’s...”  Mara began.
    But she couldn’t finish because she didn’t know how.  She loved the room
and Luke could understand.
    “So you like it?”  he prompted.
    “Yes I do,”  Mara said smiling.  “Thank you.  Well I’m going to change
now for the dinner.  If you’ll excuse me.”
    Luke took the hint and went for the door.
 

    Mara inspected her new room with wonder.  Luke had done all this, for
her?  Well he’d probably do this for anyone of his guests.  There was nothing
in here to begin with anyway.  Mara pulled out her things and arranged them
on the bookcase Luke had brought in.  A few were bathroom items so she’d put
those there when she went to fix her hair.  Next Mara pulled out the dress
she’d carefully folded and put in her bag.  It was dark green, long and
silky.  The dress left the majority of her back bare.  There was a long slit
in the left side that ran up to her mid thigh.  The front wasn’t as revealing
as the rest of it, but it was fine with Mara.  She quickly got into it and
peeked out side to see if anyone was in the bathroom.  Luke, as it turned out
was in his room.
    Quietly Mara slipped out and walked as fast as she could to the bathroom.
Once there she began to comb her hair.  When it was finished, it looked
marvelous.  Well, it was the best she could do without a hair stylist.  It
was done up in beautiful golden clips that held her hair up in a loose bun
with the rest hanging down a little and with some wisps of hair on her
cheeks.  She put the rest of her things in their own spots in the bathroom,
and quickly went back to her room.
    Just in time, she thought.  Mara immediately heard Luke’s door open up
and close as he walked down the hall.  She put away all her clothes in their
appropriate spots and waited until she knew Luke was seated and waiting.
Mustn't keep him waiting long, she thought.
    She opened her door and walked out to greet Luke.  She looked around the
lounging area until she felt Luke’s eyes fall upon her.  She felt the shock
from his mind and smiled.
    “How do I look?”  Mara asked as she turned herself around in a full
circle so Luke could see the entire dress.
    Luke stared at her for a moment longer, then smiled.
    “You look absolutely beautiful.”
    He stood up and walked to her.  “Where’d you get that dress?”   Mara
laughed.
    “I can’t tell you everything,”  she told him.  “You’ll just have to guess
now won’t you?”
    He smiled that handsome smile of his again.
    “Ready to go?”
    “Yes I am.”
 

    They took a private car down to the restaurant and Luke got out first,
then held his hand out politely to help Mara.  She smiled.  It felt like a
fairy tale.  She could truly for one night be totally in love with Luke
Skywalker.  When they arrived inside of the restaurant several faces turned
their heads to see who the new arrivals were.  Some gasped at the striking
site of Luke and Mara.  Others just sat in awe.  Luke leaned over and
whispered in Mara’s ear.
    “I think they’re staring at you,”  Luke said.  “No wonder, with that
lovely face.”
    She looked up at him and smiled, then looked down and blushed.  He really
was sweet.  They were seated and then when their food was brought they began
their meal.
    “Luke,”  Mara began.  “Why are there hardly any things in your
apartment?”
    Luke waited until he was finished chewing and then answered.
    “Well I’m hardly there,”  he said.  “Now that I’m going to be there more
often, people have been giving me more things to put in there.  Mainly Leia
and my students.”
    “Yeah I noticed that there are a lot of pictures of you with your
students in there,”  Mara said.
    Luke nodded and began to munch on something else.
    “But it still looks so empty,”  Mara continued.  “I think you need a
woman’s touch in there.”
    Luke didn’t look up, but paused and looked down at his plate.  Then he
nodded and began to eat again, but much slower.  Aware that she might of just
hurt him Mara spoke up.
    “I’m sorry Luke,”  Mara said.  “I didn’t mean to offend you in anyway.”
He still wasn’t looking up so she tried again.
    “But hey, I don’t have that many things,”  she said trying to make him
feel better.  “Maybe I need a man’s touch, right?”
    Luke laughed a little and looked up into her eyes.  Those blue eyes
killed her every time she looked at them.  She knew she would probably never
get to be the lucky girl who would wake up every morning to see those deep
blue eyes staring right back.  She might never get to know what it was like
to hug or even kiss him...or what is was like to feel his hand against hers.
    “Tell me Mara,”  Luke asked.  “Do you have a man to add that touch?”
    Luke’s question caught Mara off guard.  She was just about to ask Luke
that same question.  Well...sort of the same question.
    “No I don’t,”  she said.  “I haven’t found him yet.  And what about you,
Luke?  You found that special lady to add that touch to your things yet?”
    Luke looked down at his plate and pushed some food around with his fork,
then looked back up at her.
    “I know I’ve found her, but I don’t know if she’s found me yet.”
    Mara was scared.  Was it her?  Or was it someone else who she didn’t know?
    “Oh really?”  she asked as casually as she could. “ And where would this
unknowing lady be?”
    A little forward, but Mara didn’t mind.  It was part of her personality.
Luke’s eyes never left her’s and she was a bit glad to be staring right back.
She never remembered when she had fallen for Luke, but she did and was too
stubborn to tell him.  At least now she’d have a reason to.  If this woman
was the one, then she’d tell Luke.  There’d be no other time to tell him.
Unless she didn’t want him to know, which she did...eventually.
    “As a matter of fact,” Luke said visibly bracing himself a little.  “I’m
eating a wonderful dinner with her right now.”
    Mara had been in the middle of a mouthful of whatever it had been that
Luke had gotten her and it all of a sudden started to choke her.  She started
to cough and Luke’s eyes went wide.  He went to her side and helped her spit
out the food.
    *What did I do?*  Luke’s words thrummed surprised through her mind.
    *nothing* she told him.
    While he was helping her up, Mara spoke to Luke.
    “Do you mind if we go back to your apartment?”  she asked, trying to hang
on to some string of dignity.  “I don’t want to choke anymore.”
    “Sure,” Luke said.
    He called the waiter to come and give him the check.
    “Is everything all right sir?”  the waiter asked.  “Is your wife okay?”
    Mara tried to smile and tell the man that they weren’t married, but
decided against it.  It had a nice ring to it...
    “She’s not feeling too good right now,”  Luke told the man.  “I think
we’ll go home.  Could I pay the check?”
    So Mr. Jedi Master doesn’t mind me being mistakely called his wife either
huh?
    “Certainly sir,”  the waiter said handing him the check.  “Here you go.”
    “Thank you,”  Luke said taking the check.
    He led Mara to the paying booth and gave them his account card  They took
off the amount of the dinner, then Mara and Luke left.
    They walked back to Luke’s apartment slowly, hand in hand without even
realizing it.
    “Are you all right?”  Luke asked softly.
    “Don’t worry, I’m fine,”  she assured him.  “I’m sorry for wanting to
leave so early.  I think I ruined your evening.”
    Luke smiled and squeezed her hand.  Seems someone did realize their hands
were together after all.
    “It’s okay,”  he said.  “You’re all right and that food didn’t kill you.
Sorry for causing it all.  I didn’t think it would do that to you.”
    They had reached the Imperial Palace and Luke led Mara inside to the
turbolift.  There they stood in comforting silence.  The turbolift’s doors
opened up and Luke got out first and reached a hand inside to get Mara.  He
knew perfectly well that she could get out by herself, but he wanted to spoil
her tonight.  It could be the only chance he had.  Mara smiled sweetly and
took his hand in hers.
    They walked once again hand in hand to Luke’s room.  Mara put her head on
Luke’s shoulder and begun to rest a little.  Luke took her left hand in his
left and put his other arm around her thin shoulders.  They passed Leia’s
quarters and Luke had the funny feeling he was being watched.
    *Go to sleep Leia*
    He felt Leia’s peaceful presence suddenly straighten up.
    *sorry*
    He smiled and walked the rest of the way to his room.
    One he got in, he tried to revive Mara a little to put her in her bed.
He put her down on the couch and then lifted her up with his arms to take her
to her bed.  Walking down the hall, Mara’s arms suddenly wrapped themselves
around Luke’s neck.
    “Uh-oh,” Luke said.
    He stopped short and tried to think of how he’d get Mara to bed now.
Once in her room, he put her gently down, but she wouldn’t let go of his
neck.  I can’t stand here all night, he thought.  So he tried to pry her
hands off.  It wouldn’t work, and he didn’t want to hurt her.
    So he picked her up again and went to his room.  Looks like I won’t be
able to change, he thought.  Doesn’t matter, I’m too tired to anyway.  Luke’s
bed was a bit bigger than the one he’d brought Mara and could easily fit
himself and Mara on the bed the way she was holding him.  He laid her down in
the bed and was surprised to find out that she had let go of him.  He smiled.
“Now why couldn’t you of done that in your room huh?”
    Well at least this way he could change out of his dining clothes.
    Being careful not to wake Mara, he undressed and put on some sleeping
pants and at the last moment thought to put on a T-shirt.  He didn’t think
it’d be too nice to have her wake up to a half naked man.  Then he helped
Mara into the blankets and got in himself.  The moment he got in, he turned
his head to look at Mara.  The night’s glow made her seem so beautiful.  The
moonlight bathed her face in shadows, and highlighted her strong features.
She looked so peaceful sleeping.  He silently wished he could see her like
this all the time, but Mara wouldn’t like someone like Luke... he bent over
and kissed her softly on the lips, then fell asleep.
 
 

TO BE CONTINUED...