Author's Notes: To be perfectly honest, I'm not sure quite when in the Star Wars chronology this takes place, except for the fact that it's before Specter of the Past and Vision of the Future written by Timothy Zahn. Props to him for finally taking care of the whole who's-Luke-gonna-end-up-with cycle…we always knew it would be Mara, one way or another, one death threat or the next. And while I loved Specter and Vision, I've got my own ideas about how Luke and Mara end up together. That said, hope you enjoy this.
Disclaimer: Yeah, none of this is mine. George Lucas owns Star Wars (lucky, creative bastard—that being a joke), and Timothy Zahn created Mara Jade, Talon Karrde, and other select items and people in this story. So far all I've done is compile it all into my own design. So…I'm not brilliant and I don't own this stuff so I can't make any money from it…and don't sue! There…that should do it…I hope.
From a Certain Point of View
She was a tempest of red-gold hair and flaming green eyes when she stormed into his office on Yavin IV, and Luke Skywalker hid a grin when he caught sight of her blaster in her hand. It was a familiar enough sight not to worry him—too much.
"Skywalker, I'm going to kill you," she snapped, and Luke made no attempt to hide his grin this time around. Easing back in his chair and sliding his hands behind his head much like he'd often seen his brother-in-law do, he nailed her with the full force of his crooked smile.
"Now, now, Mara," he reminded her calmly, a twinkle in his blue eyes, "that didn't work out so well the last time, remember?"
If possible, the fire in her eyes flared up further as she struggled to reign in her temper. "Yeah, well the last time it was just some wrinkly old ghost telling me what to do. This time I genuinely want to kill you."
"Hey, it's not my fault that you—" he began, but she cut him off, waving the blaster threateningly.
"Who asked you to play matchmaker, Skywalker? Huh?"
So that was the reason she was here. Smiling gently, he dropped the casual position and stood to look her in the eyes.
"You asked me, Jade…don't you remember?"
She blanched, disbelieving. She narrowed her eyes to indicate he was treading on enemy territory. "When have I ever asked you to invade in such a personal matter? You know how I feel about that, Skywalker," she told him.
One gloved hand slipped up to unsuccessfully hide another grin as he moved out from behind his desk to seize her blaster. He decided not to tempt the fates this afternoon. Destroying a couple of Death Stars and a couple of clones seemed trivial compared to facing Mara in a bad mood. He'd known sandstorms to be gentler.
"The last time we saw each other, just before you went to sleep you made me promise to help you find a good man. You said you wanted someone to grow old with."
"The last time we saw each other I was so drunk I couldn't have told you my name, much less—!"
Luke shrugged and regarded his friend with a mock-serious gaze. "I was only trying to comply to your wishes."
"My wishes my ass! Of all the stunts you've pulled, Skywalker—and don't look at me like that because there have been quite a few—this is one of the stupidest things you've ever done." Mara glared again to punctuate that sentence, jerking her blaster back and aiming it ominously low. Luke lifted an eyebrow and tried hard not to chuckle. Rarely were his spats with the hot-tempered trader so amusing, or so dangerous.
"Now, Jade, you're being a little irrational. Why don't you put the blaster down and I'll take you to eat, and we can talk about this," he suggested, holding out a hand to her with a charming smile.
"Back off or I'll chop it off," she snapped, and Luke wondered for a moment whether she was talking about his extended hand or the area that her blaster was aimed at. He made a show of gulping and stepped back.
"Mara, be reasonable. Isn't there the smallest part of you that wants a family and a permanent place to come home to?" He gazed at her, those startlingly blue eyes darkening slightly in earnest.
"Even if that were true—and it's not—you would have no part in it," Mara snapped, and then immediately regretted the words. Luke's eyes darkened further with pain, and his hurt crashed into her before he could control the reflex she'd triggered.
"I see. Well, my apologies, then."
He was retreating. He backed away and returned to his desk, dismissing her as he returned his attention to the Jedi Academy's ledgers to disconcert what he should have the New Republic send on the next supply run. But Mara wouldn't be brushed off so easily, particularly when she'd decided to do something entirely out of character…apologize.
"Skywalker."
He didn't look up. Her eyes narrowed.
"Skywalker." Again, no response from the tow-haired man seated just out of reach. Then, gritting her teeth, she snapped, "Luke."
He looked up, unable to hide the sparkle of reluctant amusement in his eyes. "Yes, Mara?"
"I—" she floundered. "I'm sorry."
Luke Skywalker thought he couldn't be surprised anymore, but he was wrong. His blue eyes widened and he gazed at her for a long moment. For a few seconds, he had no idea how to respond. Then he stood, moved around his desk and gathered his wits.
"Well…thank you. I am too."
Somehow, Mara had been expecting more of a fight out of him. He'd accepted her uncommon apology with grace when she'd been resolving herself to something more of a display. But no—he'd made it easy on her. As always, the Jedi Master had eased her fears and insecurities. For a minute, Mara pondered at the strange bond they shared.
"Credit for your thoughts," he murmured, and her green eyes flicked his way. She smirked. They both knew that if he truly desired to know her thoughts, all he had to do was probe her mind. But that wasn't his style. No, Luke Skywalker was a man of morals and honor. And farmboy honesty.
"You'd have to give me more than a credit," she replied smartly, and he flashed his crooked smile. They'd be fine. Not that he'd been too worried in the first place, but her retort brought a sense of relief anyway.
"All right then. So, about this matchmaking—"
She fingered her now-holstered blaster and he laughed. "Thought so," he added.
"Sometimes, Skywalker…" She shook her head. "Sometimes…"
"There's a formal state dinner in two weeks on Coruscant and I've been invited," he commented, crossing the room to put some distance between them lest her murderous tendencies resurface at his next suggestion. "Would you care to accompany me?"
She shot him a suspicious look, but he only gazed back innocently. Then, reluctantly, she nodded. "All right, but no setting me up with dance partners, or I'll take off something a bit more meaningful than your hand." She watched him to see his reaction. Mentioning the incident between Luke and his father at Bespin had the potential to make the Jedi Master a bit testy or shadowed, but Luke just threw his head back and laughed. She hadn't heard him laugh like that in years, and never when others were around. With the exception of his family, this was a side of the hero and Jedi that only Mara saw. Easy-going, light-hearted, and shamelessly boyish. People would follow Luke Skywalker the Jedi Master and Hero of the Rebellion into the abyss, die for him, but Mara found herself in the inner circle of people who would go much, much further. Back and forth to the depths of hell, in fact. Willingly. To save him. Just to preserve the earnest, honest, farmboy-ish man that they'd all grown to love.
Love. It wasn't a word that Mara associated with the Jedi too often. Luke had been scarred previously—and badly—in several cases, but it had been a while since his last passionate venture into romance and Mara suspected Callista would continue to haunt him for years. Mara had been concerned, afraid he'd do something very irrational in those dark days after her disappearance. But no, he'd made it through; scarred, battered, shy, but okay. Willing to live, and that's all that mattered. Mara's old boss, Talon Karrde, had inquired about her own feelings during that turbulent time. But no, Mara had assured him that Luke remained nothing more than a usually estranged friend. Her best friend, but it didn't go further than that.
It still didn't, as far as she was concerned. And that was that. Still, his sudden interest in her love life—or rather, lack there of—worried her. He didn't usually barge into such personal matters. Either he knew someone who was interested in her or…he was setting her up because he was too wounded from Callista to find someone for himself. The thought of Luke being after her trickled through her mind, but the idea was laughable. Particularly after her entrance. For that matter, they didn't usually see each other unless he was in trouble (which was quite often) or she was mad at him (also a common occurrence). Most of the time they spent their time juggling duties and out of contact. Still, they were never completely cut off. Ever since their meeting on Karrde's ship after her discovery of his crippled X-wing, Mara and Luke had constantly been aware of where the other was and the state they were in. That strange bond had strengthened over time, to the point that Mara was always aware of Luke's moods—down to the slightest changes—even when she wasn't focused on his presence.
And she hated to admit it, but she felt rather comforted by that fact. She would be there if he needed her, on her way long before and normal contact would have been able to get through to her. It was the first time she trusted herself to be there for…a friend. She also found that in recent days she'd been missing their arguments and spars, his blue eyes, and the mixture of feelings he drudged up whenever he was near.
He was right…she was getting lonely as the days passed and she had recently been considering something resembling a normal lifestyle. To a degree. There would have to be freedom or she'd become unbearable. Some people would argue that she was already unbearable, but she needed the space.
As she looked at Luke, who had busied himself with his own thoughts, she wondered what course he would take—if he could ever trust enough to love again. His life had been hard from the start, and so far the difficulties hadn't slackened. Lately she could feel the growing darkness gathering in his mind; the shadows that Callista had left behind were growing, and he second-guessed himself more often than normal. Loneliness threatened to choke out his already-seldom happy moments, and she had seen his nightmares. That was where the bond got tiresome—she was drawn into his dark dreams and when he couldn't sleep, neither could she. Suddenly she realized it should be her playing matchmaker. Though he would more than likely be displeased with even the thought, she knew she had to find him someone to push back that darkness and make him laugh. He didn't do that very much anymore.
His blue gaze turned her way, his eyes turbulent and clouded all at once, and for a moment she was left to speculate about where his thoughts had taken him. But he offered a small smile and a quick, courtly bow.
"Well, Mara, I hate to cut this short but I've got a class to teach. I'll see you on Coruscant?" he ventured.
"When will you arrive?" she asked. He shrugged.
"A few days."
"I'll be there."
He smiled, she nodded, and then he bid her farewell once more. When Mara left, he sank back against the door and let out a breath. 'I'll be there,' she'd said. He didn't want to admit it, but those words had more of an effect than she'd ever know. Shaking his head, pushing endless, hopeless scenarios from his mind, he retreated to his desk, gathered a few things, and strode off toward class.
