Timeframe: LOTF-like AU - Canon is intact until Luke proposes to Mara in VotF. Mara says no and Luke and Mara go their separate ways. Shortly thereafter Luke reconnects with Callista and they get married. They have a son, Benji. Things develop more or less in line with canon. As the story begins, the galaxy is torn apart by war, Callista has just died, and Mara is running Karrde's company.

Characters: Mara, Luke, Dankin, Benji (OC), Odonnl, Callista (ghost), Mirax, Corran, Faughn, Aves, Ghent, H'sishi, Pormfil

Genre: Drama/Action novella

Summary: Mara reluctantly agrees to find Luke, who has disappeared after the death of his wife, Callista. Luke and his son Benji temporarily join Mara's crew as Luke tries to figure out what's gone wrong in the galaxy and in his life, and what's really worth fighting for.

Notes: This is something of a companion story to Chasing Whisperkits. They do not need to be read together, but I think of them as occurring in parallel universes. Any comments or constructive criticism are very much appreciated.

Disclaimer: Everything of course belongs to Lucasfilm, etc, etc. The only original character is Benji, who is slightly based on Ben Skywalker. The other characters all appear in the canon (Zahn mostly), although for some of them I take great liberties in fleshing them out and filling in the gaps in their histories.

Word Count: ~31,850


Prologue

Several days after Callista's death, with Luke seeming to have disappeared from the galaxy, Leia dreamed she could hear her sister-in-law's voice.

Mara Jade.

What?

She can find him.

How?

If no one else can find him...

Mara can.

She'll find him.

I know.