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Mara Jade Skywalker had never felt so disheartened yet so overjoyed at the same time in her life. Disheartened, because of the very unfortunate state of the Galaxy. The Yuuzhan Vong pressed over onward toward the core, toward her family, toward the heart of the New Republic she had helped to build. And yet overjoyed, because she finally had all that she wanted out of her life. She had a marvellous -- if a little too perfect – husband, a successful Jedi Apprentice and most importantly, she had a child of her own. It depended on what time of day it was, with whom she kept company or how outside events dictated that decided which one won out.

This was definitely a time which she was disheartened. Far too often lately, she was in exactly the same situations. Jetting off in the Jade Shadow with a wing full of Jedi Pilots to stop some invading Yuuzhan Vong force that threatened the core. Always it ended the same way: the Yuuzhan Vong would attack, and the New Republic would either withdraw or force them to retreat. And so it would go on, forever if they let it.

Until, one day, we come away with less than we started with

"Have faith, Mara," Luke Skywalker's voice drifted on the comm.

Mara immediately snapped back to the present, remembering exactly where she was. She was in the cockpit of the Shadow, in Hyperspace enroute to Commenor. Luke was holed up in the docking bay in his own starfighter. Never one to let her true feelings burden others, Mara kept her voice playful and shutdown her emotions. She cursed herself for letting her husband read her so easily.

"Stay out of my mind, Skywalker," she automatically responded. She sent him a quick reassuring mental caress, just so he knew that she was joking. She could just imagine the innocent, farmboy smile spreading on his lips.

"I'm sorry. But it's kind of hard not to overhear, back here. You're broadcasting pretty strongly," he apologised. She shook her head, amused.

"I was just reflecting on our position at the moment," she explained.

"I know, and I know how you feel. Life is great, but life is treacherous. There are a million reasons to feel happy, but a million reasons to counter them. And so the countervail goes on. But thinking like that is just adding another reason to feel sad. Concentrate on the good, Mara. The bad things are always outnumbered. Always," he said.

Mara chuckled. "Thankyou, Master Skywalker. I'll see you next lesson," she joked. A wave of indignation mixed with conceded mirth rolled off him, accepting her jab at him. Don't worry, Skywalker. It's just one of the reasons why I love you, she thought at him.

"I'm just thinking maybe I should write that one down and give Ben the spiel when he's old enough. It's a good little on-the-spot lecture," he suggested.

"Ask Artoo to file it away for you," she said, agreeing. A flicker of warmth and concern ignited inside Mara when she thought of her son. Safe back on Coruscant in the care of Han and Leia – or at least the nanny droid – she wished that she could be back with him. She could tell that Luke was feeling exactly the same way.

"I wonder what he'll look like," Mara asked, more to herself than to Luke.

"If it's anything like Anakin, the Newsvids are going to love him," Luke answered her. Mara snorted a laugh through her nose. It was true, Anakin's young and handsome looks had caused him to become the New Republic's stereotype image of a valiant Jedi Knight, replacing the old tired look of herself or Luke or even Kyp Durron. Not tired, seasoned, she told herself. With experience came a few wrinkles, and Mara didn't mind that.

"Speaking of Solo children, how is Jania?" Luke asked Mara.

These days, Mara wasn't even sure. One of the many perks of being a starfighter pilot with Rogue Squadron was that one was constantly on call, and lived with squadmates. Mara had seen less of Jania than she had of Jabba the Hutt over the last six months.

"The last I spoke to her, things weren't going too bad. She's just being a pilot, Luke. Still, that can't be easy on a nineteen year old gi… I mean, woman. Sithspawn, I still can't get used to her being grown up. I can't get used to any of them being grown up. Just yesterday they were little, eager Jedi Apprentices. Now they're all big and doing their own thing."

Again, Mara thought of Ben. How long would it be before she said the same thing about him? How long before he was off, saving the galaxy, racing ahead of his mother and father while they struggled to keep up with what he was saying?

"All too soon, I'm afraid," Luke answered her thoughts.

"Skywalker, I am warning you-"

"Stay out of your mind, got it. We exit hyperspace in ten minutes. Better get prepped," he said, looking for any excuse to turn off the comm. You'd do well to stay out of my sights during this battle, Skywalker, she thought at him. Suddenly, a surge of amusement pulsed through him.

"Mara?" Luke asked.

"Yes, Luke?"

"Stay out of my mind."