03-09-23 note: I reformatted this, and I was gonna get rid of it but I just couldn't. don't know if I'll continue it anymore, but maybe. :D

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Title: Lost and Found (1/?) Author: sourfall Email: biznitch@ crispytomato.net Category: Luke/Mara romance, humour Keywords: Luke, Mara, romance, humor Spoilers: Thrawn Trilogy Rating: PG (just for star wars curses. possibly PG-13 in later chapters.)

Summary: Luke and Mara embark on an unusual journey and of course, things go awry. Disclaimer: The fabulous Mara Jade belongs to Timothy Zahn, Luke Skywalker belongs to God Lucas and all that is Star Wars does also. Not making any money from this. blah blah blah.

Author's Note: Well, the landlords were throwing a party, I had earplugs. What was I to do? This is my first SW fic, so. be nice? Feedback is good, very good. Next chapter coming soon, if anyone likes this one. On with it!

******* Unknown Planet, Outer Rim 18:39 Coruscant Time

"It's not really all that bad, Mara." Luke braced himself against her massively angry Force-presence.

"Like sithballs it's not! Don't even try that optimism, bright-side crap with me, Skywalker! Save it for the rancors I feed your Jedi ass to!" Mara all but screeched.

"But if we just had a new coolant line and attached it to-" Luke was paralyzed by her glare.

"Look around. Do you see a spaceport? No. So we're not gonna find a coolant line and whatever else you need," she whispered through clenched teeth, "So shut up and haul some ass!"

Luke winced. Her voice could shatter transparisteel.

"Did you hear me, Skywalker?!" //The understatement of the year//, Luke thought as he obeyed and walked faster through the dense bushes.

"Brings back such lovely memories, doesn't it? Trekking through a sort of forest and-" Cut off again.

"Oh, yes, just wonderful, sithridden memories! Blast. I wish I would have killed you then so you wouldn't have had the chance to talk me into this crazy trip, mission, whatever." Mara realized she'd forgotten to breathe and made it up to her lungs by wheezing.

"Hey, you didn't have to come. I only proposed to idea." Luke felt daring tonight, obviously, or he hurt his head more than he thought in the plummet from the atmosphere.

"You played on my natural curiosity! Of course I couldn't refuse, you hothfrost Jedi," she growled.

"Anyway, I managed to salvage some ration bars from the ship before it, um. crashed and." Luke took a glance back at the smoldering wreck, "died."

Mara stared at Luke in complete and utter disbelief. "I don't believe it," she muttered. "You were thinking about food while we were plummeting to our deaths?"

Luke blinked, eyes wide. "Yeah. What were you thinking about?" he asked as if food was the only possible thing to think about at a time like that.

"Um, maybe trying not to die!" Mara threw her arms up in desperation. "And great, there's nothing for miles except these blasted tall bushes." She kicked one of the green, knee-high bushes absent-mindedly.

"Don't abuse the vegetation." Yep, Luke was definitely feeling daring tonight.

"Why not?" Mara frowned as if abusing vegetation was the only possible thing to do at a time such as this.

"Because they might have feelings, you know. Some types of plants have been known to express sentient qualities: anger, pain. happiness." Luke tapped into his small reservoir of horticulture knowledge, "And of course there's always the chance they could strike back like the Zeppilian Stingleaf and." he trailed off.

"No." Mara held up her hand dramatically. "Don't even start on carnivorous plantlife. Ugh." "I find it interesting." Mara would swear the great Jedi was pouting.

"Well, I don't want to hear about another way we could die here right now, alright?" she replied while rolling her eyes.

"Fine." Luke was stuffing the ration bars into his bag.

"Skywalker. are you pouting?" Mara kicked another bush.

"Of course not! I mean. no," he replied vehemently. Mara tried not to laugh.

"Whatever you say." She couldn't hold her laughter much longer.

"Well, I'm not." Luke tsked, rolled his eyes skyward, and sighed dramatically.

Mara giggled so hard at his classic midafternoon talk holoprogram behaviour that she fell into the bushes and couldn't get up.

It all happened too fast for Luke. "Mara, where did you go?"

The only reply was unrelenting giggles about half a metre in front of him.

"Mara? Is that you being giddy?" he asked as he walked forward. right onto Mara. The giggles were quickly replaced by a string of curses long enough to use as rock climbing synthrope. "Ah! Mara, I'm sorry-"

"Save your apologies and get off my stomach!" she lifted up her left leg and kicked him off of her.

"Ow!" Luke landed with a hard thud beside her. "That so hurt."

Luke's complaining brought back the memory that caused her gigglefit in the first place and Mara burst out laughing and couldn't stop.

Luke was puzzled as to why she was laughing so hard when he felt the corners of his mouth twitch. //Oh no, it's contagious//, he thought. The sight of her clutching her sides in obvious pain, tears sliding down her purple face, and gasping for breath was too amusing and before Luke knew it, he was in the same position she was.

One Coruscant Hour Later. -

Luke and Mara's fits of laughter had subsided awhile ago and they just lay where they had been, occasionally having a relapse. Mara hadn't realized it had gotten dark while she was dying of laughter. The night on this planet was beautiful. There were so many twinkling stars in the wide-open sky and the light from the moon almost made-

"Wannabite?" Luke interrupted her wistful thoughts by shoving a half-eaten ration bar in her face. Mara turned to see him sitting up, waiting for her answer as her gnawed off another bite and chewed loudly.

"Not since its been mangled by you," Mara replied abrasively. Luke looked truly hurt.

"I was just asking." Luke shrugged and took another bite.

"Are you pouting, Skywalker?" Mara peered at him in the silver moonlight.

Luke sighed. "Must we go through this again?" He grinned while chewing.

"Ew, that's disgusting. Shut your bantha trap," Mara cringed.

Luke grinned wider for the full effect. Mara snorted. After a few seconds, he complied, but Mara was already asleep.

***** end part one.