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.
A/N: Thank you for all of your AWESOME reviews…I can't tell you what that means to me. So, to Meere, A. Windsor, aniamifan1988, MaraJadeJediMaster, Rhea Jediknight, kayladie, fireflame, Anna Skywalker, Kazzy, Jade the Sith, a HUGE shout-out! Thank you, thank you, thank you! If I can return the favor, I will. This chap's for you!
From a Certain Point of View
Coruscant never slept, or at least that's how the saying went, and Luke was inclined to agree. Someone, somewhere was working, no matter what the hour, and the city-world's overwhelming presence in the living Force never ceased to take his breath away. But even though his quarters were tucked high up in the Imperial Palace, Luke felt he had no true home. Part of him remained on Tatooine, where he'd grown and his adult life had started; another bit on Degobah, where he'd trained under a dying Jedi Master; some on Bespin, where he'd lost his hand and gained a corrupt and evil father; some on Endor, where he'd finally found the true Anakin Skywalker; and some on Yavin IV, where he'd destroyed the first Death Star and now taught young students in the ways of the Force. Still, his remaining family was here—Leia was here—and that's what kept him from holing himself up on the jungle world where the Force flowed through all of the residents.
It had been a long time since he'd been back, and suddenly his missed his rag-tag family very much. There was of course Leia, who still walked and talked like a princess though she assured everyone that the title no longer held sway. She was a strong woman, very much like Mara Jade in some aspects, and smart. Then came Han…Han Solo, once a smuggler leading a corrupt life, now an ex-General fathering three young children. Han was a rogue if there ever was one. Luke missed him desperately. The twins and Anakin…they'd have grown quite a bit, Luke thought ruefully, darkness creeping up again. He felt guilty for all the time he'd spent away from his niece and nephews. Wedge, too, would probably be rolling out the welcome mat, though he had a family as well. Luke was the only one left from the old war days that was alone, it seemed.
He shook his head and dispelled the unhappy thoughts. Today was meant to be joyous, spent in the company of family and friends. He'd been locked away too long, it was time to come back to life. Already he could feel Leia stretching up toward the ship with her Force powers, finding and latching onto his presence. He smiled and sent warm feelings down to her through their bond, and when she retreated he allowed himself a wince of regret. He'd left her half-trained. It had been a battle of theirs for years, but in the end Luke had bowed to his sister's superior will and stopped training her. Her path lied in politics and diplomacy, not in Jedi Knighthood. He knew she was happier for it and so let the subject drop.
The ship curved closer down to a landing bay and Luke took a moment to take in the view. A few moments later, his booted feet reached the end of the ramp and he was once again in the Imperial Palace, where the seat of the New Republic remained and where his family had carved out a place for themselves. Almost as soon as he got off of the passenger shuttle, three children ploughed into him with high cries of, "Uncle Luke!" Jacen, Jaina, and Anakin had latched themselves onto their uncle, and from the look of it they weren't about to let go. Each presence was bright and strong in the Force, and the three of them were showing great potential. But he pushed that too from his thoughts and knelt down to gather the kids up in a giant bear hug. Pretty soon the kids weren't the only ones in giant embraces. First Leia's and then Han's arms closed around Luke, and all of them were engulfed in Chewbacca's exuberant embrace. Wedge had carefully stayed off to the side and managed to clap Luke soundly on the back as everyone untangled themselves.
"Welcome home!" Leia managed, smiling. Luke grinned down at her.
"Thanks."
"Hey kid, think you could babysit while you're here?" Han immediately asked, and his wife shot him an indignant look. Solo by marriage or not, Leia had been brought up by the royal Organa family of Alderaan and it showed. Han quickly retracted the request.
"Us Rogues have reserved the bar after the state dinner to welcome you home, Luke," Wedge tossed in (AN: That's for Jade the Sith!). Luke laughed and shook his head.
"I remember those parties from my Rogue days," he said.
"But you're coming, right?" Wedge's eyes twinkled and Luke found himself nodding.
"Does that mean I'm invited, too?" another voice called, and everyone turned to see the slim figure of Mara Jade leaning casually against a door jam, surveying the scene. "After all, Skywalker's dragging me to the dinner."
Wedge nudged Luke and beamed. "Way to go."
Luke wisely decided to let that comment slip by unanswered and nodded to Mara. "You can keep me from doing something relatively stupid or embarrassing while the Rogues get me plastered," he replied. Mara's emerald green eyes widened in feigned horror as she pushed away from the doorway and walked forward.
"You? The great Jedi Master, plastered? Oh dear," she retorted, and Wedge chuckled. Even Han looked amused, and Luke shot him a look. Han shrugged as if to say, "she's your problem, kid, not mine."
Leia smiled warmly at the newcomer, though both Luke and Mara could pick up on her slight unease. Mara and Leia had never really become comfortable around each other—not surprisingly considering they met back when Mara had plans to blast Luke out of existence and Leia was desperately trying to protect her family from Thrawn's—and C'boath's—grasp. But Leia both trusted and respected Mara, even if they weren't exactly friends. Mara, too, had warmed to Leia over the years, and she managed an easy smile back. Chewie, who's life-debt had long ago extended to Luke, watched warily has the ex-assassin approached. He'd been wary of Mara Jade since hearing that she had a desire to put a blaster shot through the man's head. But Luke greeted her warmly as she reached the group and she appeared to have at least temporarily ceased hostilities.
After a few minutes of conversation on the landing pad, Han took charge and led the group to the Solo's living quarters, where they could catch up a bit more comfortably. Soon Luke was hearing tales of the Solo kids' antics and the Rogues' latest adventures.
"Sounds like it's been pretty lively around here in my absence," he said, laughing. He was seated comfortably between Wedge and Mara, facing Han, Leia, and Chewie. The kids were running in and out of the room as the mood struck them.
"We've missed you," Leia replied.
"You've missed the action," Han added.
"He's been causing enough trouble on his own," Mara informed them matter-of-factly, and Luke shot her a mock-hurt gaze.
"Now, Mara, I never cause trouble," he retorted, and colored as the room nearly exploded with laughter. Then he grinned sheepishly and shrugged. "Well…maybe I do…just a little.
"What kind of trouble?" Wedge wanted to know, and she smiled as her emerald eyes blazed with humor.
"Matchmaking. For me."
A dead silence fell over the room, and then Han snorted with laughter.
"Oh man, kid…and I thought the Death Star was bad news," he commented, and Mara's fiery eyes turned his way.
"Are you implying it's a fruitless task, Solo?" she asked, and he waved his hands in a show of frantic surrender.
"Not at all, Jade," he replied amicably, "I was just saying, while I have always liked your style, many men would find you rather…"
"Intimidating? Over-bearing?" Luke tossed in laughingly. At her murderous glare, he winked. "Not that I think so."
Well he's in a fine mood, Mara thought to herself sourly. It wasn't like Luke to be so bold and teasing. But there was a sudden light-heartedness about him and he was smiling and laughing as he hadn't done in years. He was truly relaxed and seemed to be thoroughly enjoying the company. She caught a glimpse of the young, carefree boy that Han so often recalled in his stories—an eighteen-year-old kid straight off of the farm, one with a smart mouth and a chip on his shoulder. A young guy with something to prove to a universe that had been something short of kind.
And while Mara was relieved to see that the visit was indeed pushing away the shadows that had plagued him for, in her opinion, far too long, she didn't particularly enjoy being the butt of his personal jokes. Especially when Solo was in on it.
"Yes, well…I hope the throng of teenage girls outside waiting for a glimpse of 'Master Skywalker'"—at this she batted her eyelashes furiously—"thins enough for you to get to your apartment."
It had the desired effect. Skywalker flushed a shade of crimson that the others hadn't thought possible on a humanoid. It was nothing Luke hadn't encountered before; he was a war hero, and he was single, unlike the dashing Han Solo and charming Lando Calrissian, or even the humbly cute Wedge Antilles. Besides, Luke had always been the one the girls had wanted. Something about ancient hokey religions and bright green blades of pure energy, something about the man who'd seen too much of the universe in too short a time and clad himself somberly in black all of the time, touched something in women. What it was, Luke himself would never know. All he knew was that, despite his popularity with the ladies, he couldn't seem to make a relationship stick. And, looking over his rocky and dangerous life, it was no wonder why.
"Careful Mara," he replied aloud, quite cheerily in her opinion, "or someone might think you're a little…jealous."
Mara choked on her drink while Wedge, Chewie, and Han burst into laughter and Leia gaped at her brother.
"Skywalker," Mara growled warningly, and he leaned into her a bit, just to make her madder.
"What is it, Mara?" he drawled slowly. Han was beside himself. He hadn't had this good a show since his hectic bachelor party—and Lando in drag still couldn't beat Luke hitting on the absolutely furious Mara Jade.
"I'm gonna kill you," she hissed, and he laughed again. Then, louder, she added, "Are you drunk?"
"If that's the effect of alcohol," Wedge tossed in, "I'd like to get my hands on some."
Luke backed away from Mara and shrugged nonchalantly, but Mara would not be put off. She had the perfect revenge in mind for Master Skywalker.
"That's okay…I've got matchmaking plans of my own," she announced, and Leia's eyes lit up. Oh yes, she knew she could count on support from the Jedi's sister. Luke, on the other hand, looked slightly put off.
"What do you mean?"
"You heard me, Skywalker," she replied easily, then tossed in an innocent smile just to bring it all together.
"I—you—" he sputtered, and Chewbacca rumbled out a laugh.
"You got that right, Chewie," Han agreed with a laugh. "He certainly is getting a taste of his own bacta."
Leia seemed to be intrigued by the idea of matchmaking and grabbed Mara's wrist to get her attention.
"I've got a few ideas of my own," she said, and while she and Mara began to excitedly talk about the direction Luke's love life would take, the 'all-powerful' Jedi Master dropped his head into his hands and groaned. Wedge clapped his back sympathetically and Han shook his head.
"Ah, kid…you should have known when to stop," he said regretfully, and Luke glanced at him through his slightly parted fingers.
"I never thought I'd hear that bit of wisdom imparted from you, Han."
Han merely shrugged. "Yeah, well, I'd be more worried about what the ladies are discussing if I were you."
Luke groaned again. He had a feeling this was going to be a long vacation.
