The Author's Notes: PLEASE READ!

This fic is complete, total AU, and takes place directly after the events of the Thrawn Trilogy. That's right, there will be no Callista, no pint-sized Emperor, no Vong, not even Spector of the Past and Visions of the Future. Why? For one, while every book in the Expanded Universe is well-written, and while each has its own unique plot that beautifully uses old and new characters, I had my own ideas about the events after the demise of Thrawn and C'baoth. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure it wasn't all smooth sailing (it wouldn't be Star WARS if everything was . . . you know . . .peaceful), but I definitely wasn't expecting Callista. Or a pretend-relationship between Mara Jade and Lando. There was a lot of room for Luke and Mara's relationship to grow at the end of The Last Command, and while she certainly wasn't running to Luke with open arms, I don't think it would have taken ten years for Mara to realize that she had feelings for Luke.

So, I'm going to play devil's advocate. I'm going to toss out years and years of the Expanded Universe and start over.well.my way. Hopefully you like it. If you don't, I don't mind hearing why it didn't pertain to your tastes.

Please, please, please, if you have a moment, do leave a response! I read each review and usually try to respond in kind, whether that reply is in the form of a review (if you have an account) or an email (if you don't but I can find your email address). I enjoy learning about what I'm doing right and (not or) wrong in reference to my writing. Or character portrayals, or little details I missed, or plot holes. You get the picture.

One last note: this is mostly fluff about Luke and Mara's relationship. There will, of course, be some action . . .but it's meant to be a fluffy, romantic, (mostly) light-hearted piece. Sorry all you die-hard action fans! And sorry for the long, boring author's notes section.

Disclaimer: Star Wars is copywrite its respective owners and creators (in this case in particular, Timothy Zahn and George Lucas). I have no intent of making money off of this piece (it wouldn't sell in the first place), nor do I seek to deliberately infringe on copywrite laws. This is just some fun I cooked up in my somewhat twisted little mind.

Eye of the Beholder

Part One

(this section starts with a bit of a rewrite of chapter 29 of The Last Command, but after the roof scene it goes back to full-on original work)

If he was hesitant, no one could blame him. Or so he counseled himself. Luke Skywalker smiled a little wryly at that, his hand coming up to brush against the lightsaber he'd tucked into his tunic. The feel of it brought back to mind the reason he was heading to the roof of the Imperial Palace. It wasn't, perhaps, his wisest decision, but like so many other things, he felt that he had to do this. He did, after all, owe her something.

Her. Mara Jade.

His step slowed just slightly as he considered her. The woman who'd vowed to kill him. The woman, in a sense, who had killed him. From a certain point of view, of course. Another wry smile curved his lips at that last mental note, and his thoughts drifted momentarily to another time, another place, and the echo of Ben Kenobi's voice saying those exact words.

The smile faded as he refocused on Mara. She'd changed since Wayland, since she'd used his sister's lightsaber to cut down his clone. She'd fulfilled the Emperor's last command, and freed herself from that demon. Those incredible emerald eyes of hers had been much clearer when she'd looked at him just afterwards.

On the other hand, things between them remained somewhat.strained. At least, he thought with a slight grin, she doesn't want to kill me anymore. With that thought in mind, he keyed open the door to the roof and stepped into the early evening breeze.

She was there, standing near the railing on the western side of the roof, gazing out over the city. He felt the brief touch of her mind as she stretched out to identify her company, and felt his smile renewed at the momentary flash of sarcastic irony as she confirmed his identity.

"Mara?"* he called, though he'd already started toward her.

"Over here," she called back. Something flickered across her sense, and Luke's smile faded. She was right, he was up here to get an answer from her regarding the smuggler's coalition. But that wasn't the only reason, and he touched the concealed lightsaber again as he halted beside her. And really, they didn't have to start out talking business. He could ease her into it.

"Quite a view, isn't it? Must bring back memories for you."

She shot him a look, and he resisted the urge to wince. "Translation: How am I feeling about the homecoming this time. You know, Skywalker-just between us-you're pretty pathetic when you try to be devious. If I were you, I'd give it up and just stick with that straight-out farm boy honesty."

Well, it had been worth a shot. Hiding a grin, Luke decided that she was right. As always. "Sorry," he said aloud. "Too much time spent around Han, I guess."

"And Karrde and me, I suppose?" she asked in amusement.

"You want the straight-out farm boy honest answer to that?" he countered with a chuckle.

She threw him a crooked grin, the first time he'd ever seen her genuinely smile, and Luke felt his heart meet his ribs rather forcefully. Standing there, with her glorious red hair unbound and caught by the wind, and her green eyes sparkling with good humor, Luke thought for the thousandth time that Mara Jade was astoundingly beautiful. And something told him that he'd never meet anyone more beautiful. No.no, she was perfect. Especially when she smiled.

"I'm sorry I even asked," she replied, still smiling that crooked smile. He smiled back, trying to wrestle his heart back to its normal rate. Then he forced himself to get serious.

"So how are you feeling?"

Mara turned back toward the city, her emerald eyes clouding slightly as she considered her answer. He could feel her inner turmoil as she tried to put words to her emotions.

"Strange," she finally replied. He waited patiently for her to continue, and after a moment, she did. "It's like coming home.only it isn't. I've never really stood here and just looked at the city like this. The only times I was ever up here were to watch for a certain airspeeder to arrive or keep an eye on some particular building or something like that. Business for the Emperor. I don't think he ever saw the city as people and lights-to him it was just power and opportunities."

"Probably how he saw everything," he agreed quietly. A moment of silence descended then, before he sucked in a breath and himself as he tentatively eased into the next topic. "And speaking about opportunities.?"

He saw her grimace and winced himself. So much for a simple transition.

"The whole thing's ridiculous," she commented. "You know it, and I know it."

Time to try another angle. "Karrde doesn't think so."

She eyed him then, a twitch of her lips giving away a touch of amusement.

"Karrde's even a worse idealist than you are sometimes," she retorted with a soft snort. "In the first place, he's never going to be able to hold this smuggler's coalition of his together."

Mara's words echoed the thoughts of most of the people involved. Luke had to agree that the task would be difficult, but perhaps not entirely impossible.

"Maybe not," he said. "But think of the possibilities if he can. There are a lot of contacts and information sources out there on the fringe that the New Republic doesn't have access to at all."

"So what do you need information sources for?" Mara challenged, her gaze turning away once more. "Thrawn's dead, his cloning center is a shambles, and the Empire's in retreat again. You've won."

Luke shook his head and leaned further onto the railing, the breeze tugging at his hair and tunic. "We won at Endor, too," he pointed out quietly, wondering for a moment if bringing up that victory was wise in such company. "That didn't stop us from years of so-called mopping-up action. There's still a lot of work yet to be done."

Mara pushed away from the railing slightly, her brow creasing. "It still doesn't make any sense to put me in the middle of it. If you want a liaison between you and the smugglers, why don't you get Karrde to do it?"

"Because Karrde's a smuggler. You were just a smuggler's assistant." He risked a glance her way, concerned that she'd turn the New Republic down. She met his gaze for a second, then snorted softly.

"Big difference."

"To some people, it is," Luke murmured, flipping around to let his elbows support him against the railing. He tilted his head back, letting his gaze rake the stars just being to peek out above. "This whole negotiation process is running as much on appearance and image as it is on reality. Anyway, Karrde's already said he won't do it. Now that those vornskrs of his have recovered, he wants to get back out to his people."

Mara, too, turned her eyes upward. Then she shook her head, doubt creeping into her sense.

"I'm not a politician," she argued softly. "Not a diplomat, either."

"But you're someone both sides are willing to trust." Luke gave up on his study of the stars and faced her fully, his blue eyes earnest and bright. "That's what's important here."

Mara made a face, but he could feel the tiny ripple of surprise and pleasure at his words. Still, she wasn't going for it.

"You don't know these people, Skywalker. Trust me-Chewbacca and those guys you're sending out to transplant the Noghri to their new world are going to have a lot more fun."

He held her captive with his eyes, and let his warm fingers rest on top of hers. She didn't pull back from the touch, reading the steely confidence in his gaze.

"You can do it, Mara," he told her quietly, giving her hand a slight squeeze. "I know you can."

She sighed as his hand slid away from hers. He thought it best not to push his luck with her. She may have gotten rid of her demons, but if they were going to develop a friendship, it would take time and work.

"I have to think about it."

Luke nodded. "That's all right," he said in easy understanding. "Just come on downstairs whenever you're ready."

"Sure." Her green eyes tossed him a sideways look. "Was there something else?"

A smile bloomed on his face, traces of both his sheepish embarrassment and pleasure shining through. "You're getting good at that."

She smirked in self-satisfaction. "Your fault for teaching me too well," she countered. "Come on, what is it?"

The moment of truth, then. He took a long breath.

"Just this." He slid his hand into his tunic and pulled out the lightsaber he'd concealed there.

"What's this?" she asked with a frown. Clearly, it wasn't what she had expected.

"It's my old lightsaber," he told her quietly, his eyes focused on the cool metal to avoid the curious depths of her emerald eyes. He looked up only when her gaze had turned to the weapon as well. "The one I lost at Cloud City, and nearly got killed with on Wayland." He held it out with a steady hand. "I'd like you to have it."

Mara's eyes widened as she jerked her gaze back to his, startled.

"Me? Why?"

The embarrassment returned, and Luke shrugged self-consciously. "Lots of reasons. Because you earned it. Because you're on your way to becoming a Jedi and you'll need it. Mostly, though, because I want you to have it."

I want you to have it. Those words hung in the air between them for a long moment, before Mara's hand came slowly up to take the gift.

"Thank you," she said softly, all traces of her normal biting sarcasm gone.

"You're welcome." His hand found hers again for a moment. "I'll be in the conference room with the others. Come on down when you've decided."

It was time to withdraw, so he gathered his thoughts and walked slowly back toward the door to the Palace roof. He tossed one last glance her way, saw her staring at the lightsaber he'd given her, and smiled a little to himself. He'd managed to catch her off-guard, something not even Karrde had been able to do. He hit the door's release and took a step forward.

"Hang on," she called, and he felt a wave of unexpected relief wash over him. He turned back to her, unable to keep a smile from his lips. She was walking briskly toward him, those emerald eyes sparking with determination. "I'll come with you."

Luke took another breath, more than pleased for reasons mysterious even to him. He bowed to Mara as she proceeded him into the corridor, thinking that there was something inherently right about those words, despite of-or maybe because of-what they'd been through. Still smiling, he followed her to the turbolift.

((* all dialogue from that section was taken directly from chapter 29 of The Last Command by Timothy Zahn. The stuff in-between, however, was mine.))

--

Han Solo fidgeted as the meeting dragged on. All of the New Republic's bigwigs were there, plus the smuggler chief Talon Karrde and several of his employees and associates. Across the table was Luke, and next to him was Mara Jade, who'd formally accepted the job of liaison between the fledging Smuggler's Alliance and the New Republic. Her eyes, however, were unfocused, and beside her, Luke was struggling to sit still.

His restlessness made Han smile crookedly. He and his brother-in-law were definitely hands-on people. They didn't, he thought wryly as he glanced in his wife's direction, take the time to discuss things with a committee.

His wife shot him a glance as she picked up on that thought, and Han beamed at her innocently. While not a full Jedi like her brother, Leia Organa Solo was still quite capable of reading Han's emotions. She shook her head at him and turned back to Mon Mothma, listening as the older woman droned on about the usefulness of the arrangement between respectable government and smugglers. They were still negotiating means of payment and just how much information the smugglers were willing to give, and Han suspected they would continue to negotiate for the next few days.

Luckily, it would be Mara who would be saddled with that chore. Han himself could kick back and relax.

From across the table, Luke sent him an amused look, catching onto the other's thoughts just as easily has his sister had. Han shrugged and smiled, and Luke hid a grin of his own. Mara rolled her eyes at them both.

"Shall we adjourn for tonight, then?" Mon Mothma asked, and Han's attention snapped back to her. There were several murmurs of agreement from the rest of the Council and heartier comments from the smugglers. Mon Mothma smiled a bit at the last. "Very well, this session will continue tomorrow at the same time. Enjoy the remainder of your evening."

Han shot out of his seat and stretched, then took several long strides to place himself next to his wife.

"Let's get out of here, your highness," he said. Leia glanced up at him and shook her head, amused in spite of herself.

"You know I can't just rush out. Besides, I wanted to have a word with Mara-"

"Mara's not going anywhere for a couple of days," he interrupted, tugging her out of the conference room. "We need to spend a quiet evening alone with the twins. No Chewie, no Winter, and no Noghri."

She murmured a few more protests, but Han knew he was weakening her quickly. A few moments later, and they'd made their escape.

Luke watched them go, smiling a little. Han was right, they did deserve some time alone together. Especially with the children. He turned to Mara, who had stood and hesitated. She was clearly unsure if she should stick around and answer more questions, or disappear like Han and Leia had. He caught her eye.

"Better make your getaway while you still can," he commented, and she made a low noise of agreement.

"Cover me?" she asked.

"Certainly," he replied, reaching playfully for his lightsaber.

She lifted an eyebrow. "By the look of things, we just might need that."

Luke laughed and bowed low. "After you," he said, and she began pushing her way toward the door. He followed, weaving through people with minor difficulty.

"Well, guess that's a night then," Mara commented when he joined her a moment later, just outside the conference room doors. Luke smiled, throwing a cautious glance over his shoulder.

"Looks like it. Good luck with the rest of the negotiations. I trust this means you'll be on planet for a few days?"

She eyed him as they started down the corridor. "Yeah, I suppose it does."

"Well," he said, too cheerfully, "we might run into each other then.you know, around the Palace."

She smirked, thinking again that he pretty much sucked at subtlety. "We might," she replied, her tone noncommittal. Luke brightened. She hadn't just dismissed the suggestion, which meant that there was a chance he would see her again.

"Well, see ya around, Skywalker," she said as they reached the turbolifts.

It was on the tip of his tongue to ask her where she was going, but he decided against that at the last second. After all, up until a few days ago she'd wanted to kill him. It was better not to push his luck. Instead, he offered that courtly little bow again.

"See ya around, Mara."

--

Mara shook her head as the she exited the turbolift and entered one of the numerous Palace topcafs. Habit had her scanning the occupants of the room, and she quickly spotted a familiar face. After a brief hesitation, she headed that way.

She'd met Wedge Antilles, leader of the now-infamous Rogue Squadron, when he'd sprung the Etherway out of impoundment on Abregado. One of Karrde's people-Fynn Torve-had managed to get it seized, but after some rather botched dealings, Han Solo had promised to return the ship to the organization. When Mara had gone to retrieve it, Antilles was there, and he'd been friendly enough at the time.

She moved confidently toward him, determined not to run off to a corner and eat alone. It was time to make some changes in her life, and this would be a good first step. Or, second step. Her real first step was not killing Skywalker, or so she told herself.

"Antilles," she said amiably as she rested her arms on the bar next to him. He turned those chocolate brown eyes up to her face and smiled a little.

"Luke said you didn't like to use first names," he commented.

"Did he now?" Perhaps not killing him hadn't been such a good idea after all. She smirked at the thought.

"Yeah. So, word is you could be helping us out with that Smuggler's Alliance thing," he said.

She shrugged. "Yeah, I took the job."

"Luke'll be happy, then. He and Karrde fought hard to have you named liaison."

Mara blinked at that, but otherwise her face remained impassive. "I was just a smuggler's assistant," she pointed out.

Antilles nodded. She sensed a slight flicker in his mind, something he wanted to ask her about. Something that paired her name with Skywalker's. Wisely, however, he kept his mouth sealed.

"I was just a pilot," he finally said aloud, "now I'm commanding the Rogue Squadron."

She resisted the urge to roll her eyes, but understood the point he was trying to make. Given time, she was beginning to think she could like Antilles.

"Your squadron's pretty famous," she commented, scrambling for small talk.

"Yeah, I guess we are. We're just doing our jobs, really. Besides, Luke should get all the credit for that. He made us famous way back in the war days."

Mara snorted, wondering if anything Antilles said didn't have to do with Skywalker. For the time being, she'd just have to get used to it. Most everyone in the New Republic had a serious batch of hero-worship regarding their precious Jedi, or so it seemed. The only exception, perhaps, was Organa Solo's assistant, Winter, who'd never said a word about the saintly Jedi Knight. Of course, she hadn't really said much of anything that wasn't of immediate impact to the current situation. Rumor had it that the woman had a perfect memory.

That made her dangerous, or it would have in the old days. But the old days were long gone, and Winter was no longer a threat, not even to the Ex-Emperor's Hand.

"He certainly does get a lot of the limelight, doesn't he?" Mara asked aloud, reverting her attention back to the X-Wing pilot. He had nice features, hair that seemed to fall forever over his forehead, no matter how hard he tried to push the errant strands back. He wasn't particularly tall, nor was he likely to turn heads, but he had a steadfast, patient quality that won people over in the long run. His friendly smile and approachable manner helped, as well.

"Actually." Antilles smiled into his drink. "Actually, I think that's the part he hates the most. He's always insisting that Han and Lando are at least equally heroic, and that Leia's done more for the Rebellion and the New Republic than anyone else. If he had a choice."

"I get it, I get it.the humble, modest, perfect example of an aw-shucks farmboy," Mara concluded dryly, signaling for her own drink.

Antilles shrugged. "You asked."

She pulled a face. "I gotta stop doing that."

He grinned a little crookedly. "At least where Luke's concerned, right?"

"Men have lost body parts for less," she warned, and he grinned a little wider but made no further comments. They drank together for a few blessedly quiet moments, and then Mara straightened.

"I'd better get back to work."

Antilles nodded and lifted his glass in salute. "Nice talking to you, Ms. Jade."

"Mara's fine," she called over her shoulder, and walked briskly out of the topcaf, leaving the pilot smiling to himself.

The Emperor's Hand, the last Jedi . . .and her little twitches at the mention of his name. Could be more there than meets the eye, he thought, and drained the last of his Corellian whiskey.