Chapter 11

Luke flatly refused to attend any governmental meetings the week Mara started a lower dose of her medication. According to Dr. Defel, if a seizure would reoccur it would most likely happen while being weaned off her prescription. It also meant the possible return of some or all of Mara's past memories. Luke desperately hoped Mara's first recollection wasn't of Palpatine giving her his last command. 'You will kill Luke Skywalker!'

The doctor suggested reintroducing Mara to more of her co-workers and friends to see if this would jog her memory. Leia, of course, interpreted the doctor's comments as a decree to have an extravagant social event. Despite Luke's misgivings, Mara's exuberant reaction to the suggestion solidified the plan. Consequently Luke now found himself accompanying a seizure prone, ex-assassin, amnesiac to a social gathering comparable to a state function.

'What could possibly go wrong.'He thought wearily.


"This is going to be fun," Mara exclaimed cheerfully as Luke escorted her to the private party room of the nightclub Eclipse Ecstasy. The nightspot was in an exclusive area of Coruscant with an award-winning restaurant on the main floor and a very chic dance club in the basement. Luke was sure his sister called in more than a few favors to secure that party location.

Leia had arranged for a wonderful dinner sparing no expense. Luke was seated next to Mara and his sister. Across from their table sat Talon, Lando, Wedge and Han. The rest of the room consisted of a number of Talon Karrde's employees, a handful of Rogues and their dates and a few members of the Jedi Academy that were on friendly terms with Mara.

Mara was still exhibiting her new personality, being very outgoing and jovial throughout the night. Despite the fact that she was on a half dose of her medication Luke could not detect any of Mara's old aloofness or personality quirks. Right about now Luke wished some of the old Mara would return. It was unsettling seeing how much she appeared to enjoy Lando's constant compliments and flirting.

He had hoped his discomfort was not noticeable, but when Lando excused himself to use the refresher Mara turned to the Jedi with a questioning look.

"What?" Luke asked.

"That is exactly what I was going to ask you," she said quietly.

Luke shrugged, "I don't know what you mean," he lied.

"I just was wondering why you dislike me talking to Lando so much." Mara asked.

"What gave you that idea," he whispered back, trying to rein in his volatile emotions.

"Oh, I don't know. Could it be the look of disgust that crosses your face whenever he says anything to me?" Mara stopped for a moment her gaze losing focus.

"Are you alright, Mara?" Luke asked anxiously.

Mara shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts. "Yes, I just got the strange burst of emotion. If was like it was coming from outside of me." She turned to Luke and gave him a curious look. "You're jealous, aren't you?"

Luke looked at her in shock. He thought his shields were firmly in place, but obviously Mara's use of the Force was returning. He panicked. What should he tell her? Finally he decided on the truth. "Yes," he confessed as he looked away, not wanting to see her reaction.

"Luke," Mara said softly, "it is just harmless flirting between Lando and me. I'm not interested in him." Luke turned to gaze into her beautiful emerald eyes. He smiled and gave a small sigh of relief.

"Don't worry, Luke," Mara continued, "I am not exactly sure what's between the two of you, but I would never interfere with any relationship you have."

"What?" Luke said dumbfounded. When he finally understood what she was referring to he was completely taken aback. "What!" he repeated.

A confused look crossed Mara's face. Now she was not sure of what she believed. "Ummm… I… I just thought," she mumbled flustered. "Well, I just thought that…you know with the outfits he wears…purple shirts, capes and such… and you are always staring at him and when you were over at his apartment he had his arm around you in the kitchen. Not that there is anything wrong with that." She looked up at Luke who had turned white with shock. "I thought wrong, didn't I?" She asked, thoroughly embarrassed.

"Mara, I don't think it's possible to be more wrong," he said a little louder than he intended. His sister stopped her conversation with Han and Wedge to look at her brother curiously. Luke reinforced his shields and gave his sister his most innocent smile. "Umm… Mara, would you like to go downstairs and dance?" He asked as he held out his hand for her.

Mara stared at his hand for a moment before she nodded her head slowly and grasped his hand. They stood and moved to the dance hall.

Once downstairs, Luke slipped his arms around Mara's slim waist. Mara responded by snaking her arms around his neck and then they slowly swayed to the sound of the slow music being played. Luke leaned closer and whispered into her ear. "So, you thought I was attracted to men?" The utter shock of the situation was finally fading and amusement was swiftly taking its place. Luke could not help but chuckle. "I can almost understand you thinking that about Lando, but why me?" He asked curiously.

Mara leaned back looking into his clear blue eyes. "I guess it was wishful thinking on my part," she confessed.

"Wishful thinking?" Luke sputtered, even more startled and confused by this admission than the last.

Mara shook her head, "It is not what you think." She leaned her head down on his shoulder relishing in the feel of his arms around her. "I just couldn't understand why you never responded to my obvious advances toward you. I don't think I could have been more blatant." She looked back into his eyes, "I just couldn't accept the fact that you were not attracted to me. I guess I just wanted to come up with a reason for your lack of interest. One that wasn't so painful."

Luke was shocked by her admission. "Mara, are you saying you are interested in me… romantically."

"Of course," she said tenderly. "I think I was attracted to you the first time I set eyes on you." She thought a moment and corrected herself. "Well, at least since the first time I saw you in the hospital. I don't know what I felt about you before the accident. I am trying so desperately to remember. I want to remember our past together. I would love to remember the first time we actually met. I don't want to forget the years I had you in my life."

"Oh Mara," Luke said as he swayed with her to the music. "I am extremely attracted to you and I would love to be more than friends, but you have to realize we have to wait until you are better. Otherwise if you didn't have any romantic feelings for me before the accident, your way of thinking might change when you regained your memory. You might not always feel this way about me."

Mara broke away from him and he could see tears of frustration in her eyes. "Then I don't want to remember" she said with conviction. "I am happy now. I am happy with you. Can you actually tell me I was a happy person before the accident…a really happy person?"

Luke wanted to tell her she was a happy and complete person prior to the accident, but he couldn't. He now saw how happy Mara could truly be and he had to admit he never really saw that before, at least not to this degree. Dr. Defel was correct; Mara had been carrying a lot of emotional baggage. Luke always admired Mara and her resilience, but deep down in his heart he knew the Emperor left a mark on her soul.

He gently coaxed her back into his arms and continued dancing. "Mara, you were probably not as happy as you are now. Your earlier life was difficult. It is much easier being happy when you have no bad memories to contend with, but you can't stay on the medication forever. It just isn't a medical option."

"I guess," Mara conceded reluctantly, "but if something in my past is preventing me from being with you…then I would rather live the remainder of my life without those memories."

Luke shook his head. "Mara you can't hide from your past, it is a part of you. Your childhood, adolescence, growing up to be the woman you are, it is what made Mara Jade, Mara Jade. They are part of you and I've always enjoyed seeing all parts of you and your life." Luke said warmly.

They danced silently. Neither knew what else to say; the seriousness the exchange made the moment awkward.

"Did you enjoy seeing the parts of me without panty lines?" Mara joked halfheartedly trying to soften the mood.

Luke smiled. "Yes, especially those," he teased back.