I hope you can forgive me for being lazy! SORRY! Here it is though, the product of long, hard…er…well, labor anyway.

Coruscant: A few days later…

The trip through hyperspace was a trial if there ever was one. Spending a few days with Leia Organa and Han Solo—neither of which would shut up about Luke Skywalker—plus a crew obviously hung up on saving Skywalker's ass was not Mara's idea of an efficient venture. The trouble was she needed him, and to get him out she needed a distraction. Hence, she was stuck with the whole lot. The only tolerable person on the ship was Karrde, and he was so preoccupied with his hold full of Luke-clones that he wasn't much of a conversationalist. And as loath as she was to admit it, Mara was anxious to get the real Skywalker back—almost as anxious as everyone else. This surprised and alarmed her, but she brushed it off and locked herself in her quarters for long periods of time. Periods of time during which she could 'speak' with Luke privately.

//How ya holdin' up, Skywalker?//

//Concerned, Mara?// he replied sleepily, but there was warmth and amusement in his sense.

//Not so much me as your royal pain-in-the-ass sister,// she retorted, but it lacked venom.

//I know. She's almost constantly stretching out to me to make sure I'm here. How much longer will it take you to get here?//

//Few hours. I think you're in for a nasty surprise when we do get there.//

//Why?// She could practically feel his frown. //What's up?//

//Oh, I'm not going to spoil the fun…//

//Should I be worried?//

Her sense turned grim and he had his answer. //Listen, Skywalker, we're gonna get you out…then we've got to go after that crazy Jedi Master clone, then on a little trip, then back to take care of Thrawn…and it has to be in that order because if we leave our little surprise with that C'baoth guy, we might be dealing with more than we can handle.//

//So I've dragged you into trouble again,// he sent, feeling miserable. He shook his head. //I made a promise, Mara, and I don't want to put you or the rest of my family in danger. Just leave me here, it's better this way.//

//Are you nuts? Leave you with Thrawn?// And just what did he mean by "you and the rest of my family"? Did he consider her…?

Knock it off, Jade.

//It's just that—//

//We're coming after you, Skywalker, whether you like it or not.// She nodded to firm her resolve, taking a mental standing against the onslaught of his worried emotions. //And that's final.//

//If I get any of you hurt, I'll never forgive myself. I've dragged Han and Leia through enough hell, not to mention the droids, Chewie, Ben, Yoda, Biggs, Dak, Wedge, Aunt Beru, Uncle Owen—//

//I think I get the picture, Farmboy,// she sent back dryly. She could feel his remorse—deep regret, really—and knew that he meant his words. Still, he grinned wryly at her response, and some of his somberness lifted as he decided to attempt to tease back.

//You always know the right thing to say, Mara.//

//Ha! Just wait to you hear what I'm gonna say to you in person!//

//Oh, but I can't,// he replied, and pictured her with her legs spread in an offensive stance, hands on her hips, her glorious red-gold hair tumbling about her shoulders and her jewel-bright emerald eyes narrowed as she looked at him. He grinned. //I can just see you now, too, yelling at me.//

//Too bad for you.//

//What do you mean? It's the most welcoming sight I've had in a while…You'd be glad to see you too, if you were stuck with only the guards for company.//

//Don't get any ideas. This is strictly professional. I need your help, that's all.//

//Right, I'll remember that,// he sent back, but she got the distinct impression that he didn't believe her at all. Shaking her head, she turned to the Wild Karrde's controls and examined them very, very closely.

//Well, don't get comfy, we'll be there soon. If the wall starts moving, it's only me.//

//Mara?//

//Yeah, Farmboy?//

//Come alone.//

She blinked. What in the hell…? //Why?//

//Just leave my sister and Han somewhere safe and come get me. We'll have to face C'baoth alone. Both of us. I don't want Han and Leia exposed to him. Especially not Leia, she's too sensitive to the Force. He might try to use her to his advantage.//

//All right, if that's how you want it.//

//And be careful, yourself. I know he'll be after you, too,// he added earnestly. She shook her head and tried to keep from feeling pleased.

//Don't you worry about me, I'll be fine. You're the one in the cell, remember?//

//Kinda hard to forget,// he agreed.

//See ya in a couple of hours, then.//

She broke contact, and he tried to calm his aching heart. He really missed Mara, almost as much as he missed Leia and Han. But that was because he'd fallen in love with her at some point or another in the past month. She'd sealed his feelings for her when she'd said his first name. Since then, he'd been an absolute wreck. And the worst part was she didn't reciprocate his feelings. At least, he thought she didn't. He'd be willing to bet money that she didn't. This made things a little complicated. Besides, he wasn't even sure that Jedi were allowed to love, or even marry. Neither Ben nor Yoda had ever spoken on the subject, and neither had ever mentioned wives, lovers, or old girlfriends. There certainly hadn't been any women around when Luke had met them. Perhaps a Jedi was meant to remain celibate and unattached. Still, if Jedi didn't marry or reproduce, how did the Force-users come about? His own father was a Sith lord, but Mara's parents might have been Jedi. She didn't even know them. It was a complex matter, one that gave Luke a headache just by thinking about it. His heart was screaming at him to get to Mara, to find her and be with her for as long as she would allow, and he hoped that his heart was in agreement with the Force. He didn't think he was strong enough to resist her if it came to that.

He laughed then. He didn't think anyone was strong enough to resist her, and if they were, he wanted to know their secrets. He settled and tried to meditate, and when that failed, he simply sat and thought about his family—a family that had extended to include Mara, even if she didn't want to be a part of it.

--

Mara leaned back in her chair and tried not to think about Luke. She, of course, failed miserably. Was it her imagination, or had his heart been pounding? It had to have been her imagination, because why in the worlds would he, of all people, be thinking about her like that? Pushing her uncomfortable thoughts away, she closed her eyes and tried to relax and formulate a plan. Almost immediately, big, earnest blue eyes flitted back into her mind's eye and left her reeling with the implications. He was an easy man to read, he wore his heart on his sleeve, and always seemed open and honest. Those traits had crashed straight through her barriers, and she still hadn't recovered. In fact, she still hadn't recovered from being separated because of the ysalamiri, and then because of her new "job." While everything in her but her heart rebelled at the thought, it was beginning to become clear to her that she and Luke Skywalker were to walk down the same path for a least a little while longer. And he was good to have at your side in a tight spot or a tense situation. She just wished that her heart didn't whisper insane longings to her head. She certainly didn't want him in her life for much longer than he had to be there, and that was final.

"Starting the approach on Coruscant, Karrde!" she shouted over her shoulder a few minutes later, watching as the crew strapped in. Though technically Mara was a mere mechanic, no one argued with her position in the co-pilot's seat on the bridge. Her talents as a pilot and leader led to the current co-pilot actually offering his seat to her, bowing down to her superior skills.

"Very well," he called back, then strapped himself in near Organa and Solo in order to resume their conversation. Vaguely, in the back of her mind, Mara wondered how the roguish ex-smuggler and the regal ex-princess would handle the news that they were to be left behind while Mara carried out the operation. Probably, she thought with a wry smile, not well. She'd have to find something useful for them do to while she completed the mission.

And then, before she knew it, before she was ready for it, the ship was setting down on Coruscant, and she could feel Luke very clearly through the Force. She sighed, prepared herself for the plunge, and secretly thought that this was the most insane thing she'd ever done. Probably the stupidest as well, but there was little time to reconsider. Besides, she could feel Luke's bright presence, his very light reaching out to envelope her just as it always did, and it was hard to resist that silken pull. Squaring her shoulders, she turned to face the group, and as she watched the clones file down the ramp and out of the Wild Karrde's hold, she got an idea.

"Karrde, mind if I borrow two of those guys?" she asked. He looked at her, a confused frown pursing his features for a moment before he gave a slight shrug.

"Sure. I certainly don't want them," he replied.

"Thanks!" she called back, and looked at Organa and Solo. "You guys can sneak in with me, but while I spring Skywalker, you'll have to keep an eye on our buddies for me."

Solo gave her a look that spoke volumes about his point of view on Mara's plan of attack. "If you think for one minute that I'm gonna babysit a couple of clones while you go out and save my best friend, you've got another thing coming. Besides, saving Luke's behind is kind of my job. Wouldn't want to get out of practice."

"I agree. He is my brother, I should be there to get him out," Organa added. Mara rolled her eyes and sighed.

"No way all three of us can go. Not even two. And what would happen if I let you or Solo go and you opened the wrong door and popped out of the wall in the throne room, hmmm? No, it's best that I go. I'll come back and get you, and then your precious Skywalker will be all yours. Force knows I want as little to do with the Jedi as possible."

Again, Solo gave her a look, one brow raised in speculation. "Really? Then why are you springing him out like this? We didn't ask you to."

Trust Solo, Mara thought with bite, to ask the very question I've been trying so hard to avoid. Aloud, she responded simply, "You didn't ask, but he did."

Organa's brows went up at this, and Mara could sense the stinging pain that rippled across the other's Force signature in response. "He asked you? But why didn't he…ask us?"

Mara smirked. "Allow me to count the ways. One, you're two of the most well-known Rebels in the galaxy and this is the Imperial capitol; two, I know how to get around the palace without being seen or heard; three, I have a bit of training in the Force that should be beneficial; and four, I'm the one who's got a master plan."

"A master plan?"

Again, Mara rolled her eyes at the inquiry. "Solo, I'll explain it all later. The quicker we get you into someplace unseen and your precious Jedi out of his cell, the better."

"That's something I can agree with," Organa cut in. "Fine, you go get him. But bring him straight back here."

Mara waved it off as she opened a panel of the wall. She led Solo and Organa into a crossroads of sorts and motioned for them to keep hold of the clones and wait. She was so focus on her task that she didn't feel the slight ripple in the Force indicating a change in Luke's manner.

Meanwhile: in his cell…

Luke struggled against himself, becoming desperately aware of just how close he'd been brushing with the Dark Side lately. Not only that, but by consciously conceding to be rescued, he was going back on his promise to Thrawn. And a Jedi's word was binding…wasn't it? Of course it was.

No. I can't leave like this. I'll either have to face Thrawn and C'boath or I'll stay and do exactly what I promised to do, but I will not sneak out.

Just as he was finalizing that thought, a panel of the well slid open and Mara slipped in. Almost instantly, all of his good intentions about honoring his promise fled away, being replaced with thoughts of getting out of here and following her anywhere in the galaxy she wanted to take him. Dressed in her usual black jumpsuit and boots, a utility belt draped loosely over her hips, she looked even better than he'd remembered. Before he realized what he was doing, he was across the room and her hands were in his.

"Mara," he started, but was cut off as she shoved him toward the passageway.

"Come on, Skywalker, no time to waste. Your sister and the smuggler are waiting not too far ahead, along with two of those surprises I mentioned."

"Mara, I can't go with you," he said firmly, stopping directly in front of the passageway. Her green eyes lanced into him and she pushed him again.

"What are you talking about? Of course you can," she snapped. He shook his head.

"I gave my word as a Jedi. The Force will hold me to this promise, Mara. And what kind of a man would I be if I simply ran away?"

"A pretty damn intelligent one!" she half-yelled. "Look, Skywalker, I know you have this misguided honorable-streak—" he opened his mouth to protest this but she cut him off once more—"but trust me, Thrawn doesn't. And if you don't get out of here, right now, he'll kill you. But only after he's succeeded in destroying everything you love."

She spoke with an air of someone who'd had experience in that particular area—who was he kidding, she was someone who'd had experience in that particular area—and yet he still wasn't allowing her words to sway him.

"I wouldn't be a Jedi if I didn't honor my promise," he told her, pleading with big blue eyes for understanding.

"And if you stick around, you won't be a Jedi because C'boath will have twisted you into becoming a Sith," she snapped, becoming impatient. "Look, if I show up without you, your sister's gonna have that Wookie buddy of hers skin me alive."

"She'd understand."

"Oh yeah? Then why'd she already try that particular maneuver?"

"Mara, I'm sorry but I—"

"Fine," she said abruptly, enjoying his look of surprise as she sat on the floor. "But if you're staying, so am I."

He became exasperated. "The whole point of me staying was to get you to leave."

"Precisely," she agreed, "so what're you gonna do now?"

He groaned. Trust her to come up with a way to make him do what she wanted. He really should have expected nothing less. He was not willing to put this beautiful young woman—resourceful as she was—at risk again, so he nodded.

"Fine, you win. But how are we gonna get out of here."

She winked and he decided it was perfectly all right to be wary. "That's simple, Skywalker. Follow me and I'll show you."

Obediently he trailed after her into the tunnel, and several moments later his weeping sister tackled him as they turned a corner.

"Luke! You're safe, thank the Force," she said, voice muffled by his tunic. He gently pulled her off of him and wiped away her tears, then turned and grinned at Han, who unsuccessfully tried to keep a stern expression on his face.

"Well, kid, how many do you owe me now?"

Luke's grin turned wry and he affectionately thumped Han's shoulders. "You still owe me for Jabba."

Mara watched the exchange with interest, one brow raised at their antics. Then she full out smiled as Luke looked behind his sister and friend and noticed, for the first time, his clones. Shock rippled over him and into her sense as he took them in.

"How many are there?"

"A few hundred," Mara informed him cheerfully, enjoying the moment. He shot her a glare, deadly serious. "Thrawn's making an army of you, farmboy…an army he wanted you to train."

"I…an army…"

The two Luukes watched him with silent blue eyes, and Luke shuddered.

"We're gonna put one in your cell, and another's going to leave in your X-wing, which Ghent has probably managed to get out of holding by now."

"I…Ghent?" he asked.

"Karrde's slicer." Mara beamed. "You're right, Karrde does take care of his people."

"So that give us ample time to get you away, and he'll probably chase down the X-wing first as long as we all head straight back to Wayland," Leia explained, and Han nodded.

"Right back to his stronghold to pick up another load of clones," he finished.

Luke nodded and followed Han and Leia out of the secret passage with one of the clones while Mara led the other back to Luke's cell and instructed him to look as if he were meditating. Twenty minutes later, the clone Luuke, dressed in an Imperial pilot's outfit, was heading toward the docking bay where the X-wing was, and the group was ready to head back to Wayland without a hitch. The last of the clones were marching into the palace when Mara's hand shot out and caught one. Turning Luuke so that it faced her, she muttered, "my command is fulfilled," and she plunged her lightsaber into its stomach to the hilt. Leia and Han watched, rather shaken by the whole episode, as Mara shut down the lightsaber and walked calmly up the ramp into the Wild Karrde. Luke watched her go, unperturbed.

"Why'd she do that, you think?" Han muttered, and Luke smiled slowly.

"She's freed herself from the grip of the Emperor and Thrawn. She's truly free now."

By the looks on their faces, Luke knew that Leia and Han didn't understand. It didn't matter. He understood, and that's all he needed to know. He followed Mara up the ramp and left Han and Leia to contemplate his words.

Hyperspace: Somewhere between Wayland and Coruscant, a few days later…

Sucking in a deep breath, Luke firmed his resolve and knocked gently on Mara's door. He felt her brush against his sense, then the door slid smoothly open and he took a hesitant step inside. Her back was to him and she was brushing out her luxurious red-gold hair. Swallowing to dampen his suddenly dry throat, he took another faulty step forward.

"What is it, farmboy?" she asked. He fiddled with his hands and glanced her way.

"Well…I…nothing in particular."

She could feel his nervousness and nailed him with a look. "Oh yeah? Then why so tense?"

"I…"

"You…?"

He settled down next to her on the bed, and she gave him another pointed look before going back to brushing her hair. It was a minor brush off, and suddenly Luke regretted ever coming. He stood abruptly and turned to leave, but she shut the door before he could get out of her cabin.

"No way are you leaving me in the dark, Skywalker. Spit it out."

"Nevermind…this was a horrible idea. I thought…" He shook his head. "I don't know what I thought, but I should have known better. Sorry for bothering you."

She was off of the bed and glaring at him in an instant. "The only thing that's bugging me is your attitude. Now…spit.it.out." Each word was heavily punctuated, and Luke gulped. He led her back to the bed and sat them both down. Taking her hands in his, eyes downcast, he braced himself and decided to speak. Glancing up into her keen, emerald gaze, he choked out what he'd been longing to say for weeks.

"What was that? I couldn't hear you," Mara said, leaning in. Her hostility had been pushed aside in favor of curiosity. Luke's hand came up to touch her hair gently, his eyes crystal blue. Haltingly, he tried again.

"Mara. Jade…I love you."

Not a long chapter, but I wanted to leave you in suspense. Please review and let me know what you think Mara's reaction should be.

Again, I apologize for disappearing for a while, but I'm hoping to put more of this out soon. Hope you liked it!