d I s c l a I m e r : 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 u t h o r ' s N o t e s :] Hey, if anyone's got [matchmaking] suggestions, email or review. I'd love to get a couple of ideas. And I'd like to thank the reviewers again, so a big thank you to Kazzy, Anna Skywalker, yeahme, Jade the Sith, aniamifan1988, Rhea Jediknight, JediMasterWhit, kayladie, and hewgleymom. Thanks for sticking with me…I can't promise daily updates, but…I'll try to keep up. And I'm open to suggestions, requests, and colabs, too, so…get in touch if anything strikes you.
[ s p e c i a l t h a n k y o u s ] : To Elizabeth and Rhea, thank you very much for your emails and your ongoing support. To Jade the Sith, Kazzy, and everyone else who's reviewed for all three chapters so far—You guys/gals are the best, and I really appreciate it. Keeps me writing, you know? This chap's for you!
From a Certain Point of View
It had been a few days and Mara was racking her brain, trying to come up with someone, anyone to pair Luke with. If she didn't come up with an answer quick, he'd call her bluff, and she didn't want that. Still, she'd spent the past few years watching Luke fall in love and then get crushed. The possibility of Luke being left shattered again was daunting.
At least that was the excuse she was giving herself. To be completely honest, she wasn't too keen on sticking her friend with some politician or starry-eyed, admiring Jedi student. But it was too late to back out now, she'd opened her big mouth, and in front of Leia, too. She was committed. She only hoped he wasn't having any better luck. Besides, who would he know that would be willing to put up with her. No one, he was a solitary creature by nature…
There was a part of her that didn't want Luke to be with anyone, even if she did manage to find the perfect woman for him. She just didn't see Luke as the married type, though she was sure he'd make a wonderful husband and a topnotch father. In fact, she was so comfortable with the Luke Skywalker she was glimpsing as of late that she didn't want anything to change. However, those shadows remained in his mind, waiting to spring forward and trap the Jedi in darkness once more. He'd always wanted a family, and, as his best friend, Mara wanted to help. She wanted to be part it all. She didn't like to admit it, but she'd grown attached to him. Luke would always make a place for her in his life, he'd told her that several times himself. Of course he would. Nothing would have to change if he fell in love with another woman.
I hope to the higher powers that that's true, she thought wryly, and went back to the drawing board.
--
Luke's head came into sharp contact with the top of his desk. It was one of the few pieces of furniture in his small apartment on Coruscant, but it was as good a surface as any to beat his head against. He was driving himself crazy over his ridiculous show of bravado. Every time he pictured Mara in the arms of another man part of him went a little crazy. He could hardly bear the thought of it, and so didn't think he could actually pair her with someone else. Jealousy—sharp, painful jealousy—reared up whenever he saw her with any other man, and now he'd volunteered to look for several good matches for her. He was already starting to lose sleep over the issue. Besides, his fiery, beautiful Mara Jade was far too independent and strong for any man. No one was good for her. Vaguely he realized he was sounding like a jealous boyfriend or an over-protective parent, but another part of him told him that was just fine.
On the other hand, no matter what misery it was causing him, he'd never hear the end of it if he retreated from his matchmaking task now. He lifted his head, glanced at the list of possibilities he'd written out, and let his forehead drop again. He couldn't concentrate, didn't want to focus on his self-imposed plan.
Why did I open my big mouth anyway? he snapped to himself, then let out a long breath to relax. It was in vain. He'd spent the last couple of days trying to keep his mind off of the image with Mara in the arms of another, particularly one that was the exact opposite of him—tall, dark, muscular, handsome. Of course, there wasn't much likelihood of her falling for him, and he repeated that to himself over and over. Besides, he didn't want to love again. He'd given up on that, decided to live out the rest of his days alone…hadn't he?
Of course he had. He lifted his head again and nodded sharply to reconfirm that fact. Love for him brought death and destruction at its heels. No one could be with him and not feel the strain, and he wouldn't lose Mara to the darkness that seemed to shadow his steps every day. Loving her was impossible, it was time to stop fantasizing and start focusing on what he was doing. No more pining after something he couldn't have. He'd do Mara a favor and find someone to love her and take care of her, because he would deny her none of her wants. He'd do anything in the galaxy, give her anything in the galaxy to make sure that her past wouldn't haunt her future. He'd die for her happiness, of that he was absolutely certain.
Having concluded that he would find her someone if it killed him, but not today, Luke conceded defeat for the afternoon, and decided to take a nap…particularly when he sensed that Leia was stretching out to suggest another senator. Vaguely he realized that, unable to get through to him, she'd changed direction and was heading to Mara's. Smiling slightly over their persistence, he allowed a trance to slip him into unconsciousness.
--
"Mara?" Leia called, pushing the buzzer on the door's control panel. A few moments later, the red-head answered, looking uncharacteristically disheveled. Leia strode in, glancing around at the tasteful but spare apartment. Just like Luke's. Neither had settled into a permanent home, another way the two were alike…
Derailing that train of thought before it started, she turned and nailed the green-eyed trader with a look.
"Have you heard from Luke lately?"
Mara shook her head. "Not since the state dinner," she replied. "Why, something wrong? Did a new superweapon show up?"
Leia couldn't suppress a smile at the implication. Luke had spent the majority of his life saving the galaxy. The smile faded as she realized that, as of yet, no one had been around to save him from his own troubles in return.
"No," she said at last. "No, physically he's fine as far as I can tell…but he's been avoiding me—and you, aparently—for the past few days."
Mara chuckled for a moment. "Can you blame him?" she asked. "We are trying to match him up with some stranger."
"You're right, that's probably all it is…still, he doesn't normally cut himself off unless it's something serious."
"I wouldn't worry about it…just give him some space." Mara paused. "After all, he's been hurt before—badly—and he's probably a little reluctant to try again."
Then she blinked, shocked. Did I really just say that? From the look of surprise on Leia's face, she had indeed. Shrugging defensively, Mara retreated into the kitchenette, leaving the other woman to ponder about the trader's relationship with her brother. After a moment, she followed the redhead into the next room.
"Perhaps…perhaps he just needs some company," she suggested, and Mara shot her a sharp look. The wheels in the senator's head were turning and she had a feeling that wealthy aristocratic daughters were no longer Leia's prime candidates for Luke's happiness. Still, the trader had no way of proving that theory—Leia's shields, thanks to Luke's training, were strong. The look in her eyes, however…
She shook her head and banished the thought.
"If Skywalker needs to see me, he'll call for me," she replied. Leia frowned slightly, but the expression abruptly changed to glee as the comm unit in Mara's home beeped, indicating that there was a caller waiting. Mara, already quite aware of the caller's identity, stalked over to the unit and punched the receive button quite viciously. Luke's face popped up, blue eyes laughing.
"Stay out of my head, Skywalker," she snapped, but it as a reflexive response to his joke and they both knew it.
"Mara," he said, a crooked, boyish smile curving his lips, "I think I need some company."
Leia's shoulders were shaking with silent laughter and Mara scrambled to reply with a scathing remark, but nothing came to mind. He was waiting for the bite of her smart words but she faltered for the first time in the history of their rocky but shared path.
"All right," she said instead, discovering small satisfaction in catching him completely off guard, "I'll be there in a minute."
Luke blinked at her for a moment in disbelief, but then his expression bloomed into a delighted smile.
"I'll be waiting," he replied, and disappeared. Mara breathed out slowly.
I'll be waiting.
--
It echoed in her mind during the walk down the corridor and to the turbolifts. Luke was getting to her like never before, and with nothing more than three simple little words—the same three words she'd uttered nearly two-and-a-half weeks ago. She walked unseeingly down the next long corridor and blindly tapped at the door's buzzer, muscle memory drawing her touch accurately to the control panel. After a moment, the door slid open smoothly and there he was—Luke Skywalker, her worst enemy and best friend—smiling and welcoming her into his home.
"The real reason I invited you over is…well, if I'm to make a good impression on this woman you and Leia settle on for me, I'm going to need a bit of an overhaul," he said. "Wardrobe, apartment—"
"She's going to be seeing your apartment, Skywalker?" she asked sharply, baiting him.
He colored as she'd intended, but he had a glib remark of his own to make them even once again.
"There's that jealousy again, Jade."
She glared, but he only chuckled mildly. "So…" he spread his arms out, "will you help me?"
She contemplated for a long moment, looking anywhere in the room but at him. She could feel the disappointment ebb in on him slightly due to her silence, but he said nothing. He made no attempt to plow into her thoughts or probe her mind, he simply waited. In the end it was that fact that won her over.
"Yes, Skywalker, I'll help you." she said. Luke's delighted grin came back, much warmer and fare more affecting in person. She turned her gaze from his elated blue eyes.
"You won't regret it," he assured her. An acidic comment flew to her lips, but she swallowed it after a moment, confusion warring with a sudden bout of nervousness. He sat her on the couch, poured them both caf, and settled down across from her to discuss his remodeling ideas. But Mara wasn't really listening. Three words drifted back to the front of her mind, no matter how she tried to push them back.
I'll be there.
--
Luke was pleased with himself. He'd found a way to stall on picking a match for Mara and spend more time with her, all while telling himself it was to understand her better so he could make sensible choices in possible grooms. An ingenious plan really—he wouldn't even have to feel guilty about trying to be with her after vowing to give up love…again.
She sat across from him, locked in deep thought, and he leaned forward, concerned about whatever it was that troubled her. Brushing against her sense as gently as he could, he sent a small bit of that concern to her.
-Mara?- he sent softly, and her brilliant emerald gaze lifted to meet his. She opened her mouth to respond, then closed it and replied through their bond.
-Yes?-
-Something's bothering you…are you all right? Is there any way I could help?- he asked.
-I'm fine, just thinking.- Her lips quirked into a smile. -Trying to picture you in a light pink shirt. I think it would go well with your sandy colored hair.-
His own lips curved into an answering smirk, but it didn't reach his eyes, which had become earnest in searching for the real problem.
-If you need anything, Mara…-
-I know, Skywalker.-
It was weird to be so close to him and yet using the Force to communicate. Normally she would have objected, but the silence was too perfect and the mood too fragile to ruin with petty words. She walked Luke take a deep breath, a look of 'now or never' crossing his face.
-My name's Luke,- he sent softly, in a tone that spoke of his desire to hear his first name from her lips…or even through their bond. But no, she was too overwhelmed, too confused and occupied by his potent presence to think clearly. So she smiled a little falsely and shook her head.
"I know your name, Skywalker," she replied out loud, and stood to put some distance between them again. Luke's face crumbled a little bit, but he quickly regained control and stood as well.
"Right. Shopping for my new clothes tomorrow?" he asked.
"Sure," she replied, heading for the door. It was a hasty, cowardly retreat and she knew it, but something about him had thrown her through a loop and she knew she had to get away. He followed her and keyed the door open.
"Goodbye, Mara," he said. "I'll see you tomorrow."
"Yeah," she agreed, avoiding his gaze, "tomorrow."
Then she left, repressing the urge to run from his apartment, from him, and from the change they'd triggered in their relationship during their conversation. Her fingers found the spot on her head where his lips and touched her those few nights ago and she flushed.
This did not bode well for their weird friendship at all.
