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 ] : I think I've worked out the matches now, and thank you for all your suggestions! They were fun to read and I hope you enjoy the actual pairings that I've decided on, with some help from Rhea Jediknight. You guys have been so responsive and positive that it makes everything that much more fun to write. By the way, for those of you reading my other fic, "Hand of Thrawn," the update is on its way. And as has become custom, a big thank you to the readers; MaraJadeJediMaster, aniamifan1988, A. Windsor, Jade the Sith, Angus Hardie, Anna Skywalker, and kayladie. This chapter's for you!
[ s p e c i a l t h a n k y o u s ] To Rhea, for giving me some great ideas and advice, including some of the stuff that comes into play in this chapter. To my regular reviewers, I love you all! I hope you enjoy this, and I hope I continue to produce works you like to read.
From a Certain Point of View
The idea struck Luke in the middle of the night, long after he should have been asleep but long before he actually managed to slip off into dreamland. He knew as soon as the thought struck him that it would be a prefect compromise, and the best part was Mara already knew and liked the man. It wasn't a match that was automatically obvious, but after some thought he realized it made perfect sense. Almost too perfect. If it worked out, then she'd be taken care of for the rest of her life and yet remain, to a certain extent, free to do whatever it was that her heart desired. The only thing left for Luke to do was make it happen.
He sighed and rolled over onto his back, trying to hold back the depression that threatened to strike. It came at its worst in the night, particularly now that he was envisioning his best friend with someone else. No matter how often he reminded himself that he wanted nothing more to do with love, he couldn't help but feel physically sick at the thought of Mara with another. It wasn't a reaction he'd expected or desired to have.
Instinctively, he reached for Mara's presence—his last line of defense against the persistent loneliness. As far as he could tell, she was fast asleep. Unwilling to wake her, he retreated and stared at the ceiling. For the next few moments he wondered tiredly just whom Mara and Leia would attempt to set him up with. He was tempted to tell them that he had no intention of getting married, or sharing his dangerous life with anyone else, but he knew it would do little good. Both of the women in his life could be incredibly stubborn if the occasion presented itself. Images of his 'fan-girls'—a term Han used to describe the "Skywalker following"—as possible candidates for the match floated through his mind, but he grimaced slightly. Even if he was willing to open himself up again, he couldn't imagine living with someone who idolized every aspect of him.
However, the idea of living with a senator's daughter or a politician was equally daunting. He was in the public eye enough as it was, he didn't need a famous wife as well. Not that he was looking for a wife. He reminded himself of that sharply.
A Jedi student was laughable, and anyway he didn't think Mara would go to Yavin for any reason, even if it was to torture him with possible "Mrs. Skywalker"s. Still, it seemed far more bearable than the other two options.
He shook his head and rolled back onto his side, trying to clear his mind. He didn't want to think about it anymore. In the morning he'd call the man he'd chosen for Mara and set up her date. Until then, he had to get some rest. He forced himself to focus enough to slip into a trance, and rested dreamlessly until morning.
--
Talon Karrde had survived everything the galaxy had thrown at him so far, but this was something he didn't think he could handle. There was no way he could come out of the proposed situation unscathed, and for a moment he was rendered speechless as the caller waited grimly for an answer.
"The very idea is absurd, Skywalker," he managed after a moment, his voice gritty. "There are a few major factors that render the suggestion impossible."
"If you're referring to age difference, I'll point out the fact that the two of you are closer in age than most couples, possibly including my own parents," the younger man pointed out.
"Mara and I…we're not compatible."
Luke snorted, telling Karrde what he thought of that statement. Karrde paused, stretching.
"We're not attracted to one another."
At this, Luke's expression turned almost sarcastically incredulous. "You don't think Mara is a beautiful woman?"
Okay, Skywalker had him there. "Well, yes, she's very attractive, but she isn't attracted to me and there's nothing to support the notion that the two of us should become romantically involved."
"Karrde, I am a Jedi. I know how you feel about Mara. I know how protective you are when it comes to her, even though she's no longer an employee, and I can tell that you, like every other man who's ever come into contact with Mara, are attracted to her sexually," the younger man stated bluntly. He was in a sour mood, and obviously hadn't slept well the night before. Which was probably the reason he was saying all of these outrageous things in the first place.
Slightly embarrassed that Luke had picked up on his slight attraction for the fiery-haired trader, he glared at the other.
"Skywalker, you're close to ending a friendship that has so far been very beneficial to you," he warned, and Luke's eyes narrowed into blue slits of pure durasteel.
"Don't pretend to be uninterested. A part of you has loved Mara from the day the two of you met," the Jedi snapped. "You can make her happy, you can take care of her. Do that, Karrde…Talon. Do that for her. No one else can."
Karrde's eyes also narrowed. No one else? He doubted that seriously as he gazed at the flustered, impatient man before him. Luke Skywalker was not acting like a Jedi today. Still, he kept his mouth firmly shut and admitted that the offer was rather appealing. At any rate, it would allow him to observe Mara from a perspective he'd never had access to before, and put him in a position of some leverage. And for what he had in mind, he would need every bit of leverage he could get. His gaze returned to Skywalker's.
"And what exactly would I have to give you in return? Don't think I don't expect you to deny payment."
Luke frowned. He hadn't thought of that, but of course it would be Karrde's first thought. He was a smuggler and trader, after all. "Invite me to the wedding," he said after a long, silent moment, and Karrde's lips twisted into a slight smirk.
"Wedding, eh? Have your Jedi powers revealed such an occasion?"
Luke shrugged. "I picked you for her, didn't I? I would have her marry you if she could get used to the idea. Take care of her."
"Don't make things out to be too serious, Jedi," the smuggler said. "We'll just see how things turn out."
"Of course." Really, that's all Luke could ask. Satisfied, he terminated the call and went about getting ready for the other errand he had to run before meeting Mara to go clothes shopping.
--
When he'd called around lunchtime and asked breathlessly if he could bring someone along on their outing, Mara had agreed without really thinking about it. But only one thing got Luke excited anymore, and that was a new candidate for his Academy. She shook her head, realizing belatedly that she should have at least hesitated to acquiescing. The last thing she'd wanted to do was spend the day with Luke and the new apprentice, who would no doubt be chatting about the Force and the training the entire afternoon.
But it was too late to do anything about it now—now being nearly two-'o-clock in the afternoon with Luke and the new candidate due to arrive at any moment. She sighed and decided not to think about it, turning her mind instead to the still unresolved dilemma of finding a suitable match for her friend. She'd left things rather badly with him the night before, then had spent the rest of the evening racking her brain for the answer to her problem. But no name, no face had come up and Mara had gone to bed early in the morning admitting defeat.
The buzzer rang before Mara had a chance to ponder some more, and she stood and walked to the control panel to key the door open, distracted. She was surprised to see a very beautiful woman at Luke's side.
"Mara, I'd like you to meet Caoimhe," he said, smiling. "She just arrived on Coruscant, and I've discovered that she's strong in the Force. I thought she'd enjoy coming out with us."
Mara nodded numbly, staring at the woman. Caoimhe was shorter than the trader by a few inches, with eyes a bright blue-green, and her skin was unblemished and creamy. Her hair fell in soft, honey-brown waves to her mid-back and she had kept herself in good physical shape. There was an aura of tranquility about her, like a still pond. She and Mara were complete opposites, of this the trader was absolutely certain.
And Caoimhe looked good with Luke. It was a smart match. Suddenly she didn't mind that the other woman was along—it would give Mara time to get to know her before deciding to pair her with Luke.
"Call me Cay," the shorter woman said softly, offering a well manicured hand, "it's easier to say."
"Caoimhe," Mara murmured, thinking. "Means…gentleness and beauty."
Cay smiled. "Yes," she said, "but it's a bit of a mouthful for meaning something so simple, isn't it?"
"Yeah, a bit."
Luke smiled as he watched the interaction, pleased that the two of them got along. "Cay's agreed to come to Yavin with me to train. I thought I'd explain it a bit better to her while we shop."
Mara could have rolled her eyes at the predictability of it all. "That's fine," she said aloud, shields firmly in place so he wouldn't catch wind of her exasperation or her plans. She turned to the smaller woman. "Hope Skywalker doesn't chat your ear off…let's go."
She led the way out of the door, thinking that the afternoon was suddenly looking a bit dull. Still, she was ninety percent certain this was the woman she wanted to match Luke up with, so that the two of them could be boring together for the rest of eternity. Sighing in slight disgust—ironic since she was the one who would be orchestrating the match—she headed for the turbolifts without a backward glance, leaving Luke to wonder what was wrong this time and Cay to thinking that Mara was an incredibly moody lady. Shaking his head, Luke glanced at Cay and shrugged.
"You'll get used to her," he said soothingly, and the other smiled.
"I'm sure," she replied, and they followed.
