The Emerald Price Chapter 25

By Ash Darklighter

Disclaimer:- The characters and situations used in this story are the property of George Lucas and Lucasfilm Ltd. I am only using them for some entertainment and will not even make one Republican credit from this endeavour. This is set around eight to ten years after Luke and Mara met each other for the first time. This one is for all the girls on the AA list and of course for Mona – what would I do without you? My thanks also to Niqella and Rhea for their encouragement and invaluable suggestions.

Mara stripped off her tunic, leaving her clad in her work-out clothes. Luke suppressed a groan. She was wearing a dark blue cropped top which left her trim midriff bare and a pair of clinging black undershorts. He'd seen her in less – her swimming costume, for example, or the skimpy outfit the slavers had put her in - but he was finding it harder and harder to keep his mind on what he was supposed to be doing.

A Jedi Master should not yield to his hormones even when the object of his disquiet was standing before him. He could regard it as another test from the Force but none of the other trials he'd had to get through had looked anything like Mara. Luke resolved to add that to the Jedi Code and wondered what the rest of the Academy staff would think of the addition.

With a malicious grin on her face, she strapped her belt around her slim waist and hung her lightsaber from it. "Here goes, Skywalker," Mara said and her saber flew off her belt and into her hand.

"I thought we could use these practice sabers – since you are now a Jedi apprentice," Luke said with a casual smile.

Pretending confusion but not fooled in the least, Mara stared at Luke. "Practice sabers! Where's your own lightsaber?" she asked. "Why should I use a practice saber when I'm used to this one. I'm not a child, Skywalker. We've never used these toys before. Why start now?"

"Humour me," Luke said.

"Suppose I'm not in the mood to 'humour you'," she returned, a glint lighting up her green eyes. "Where's your own saber?"

"In my quarters. It needs a little fine tuning." Luke frowned. Mara was up to something. He could feel it through their bond even though both of them were shielding overtime. Over the last few years Luke had begun to find that he could hide things from Leia but could never fool Mara for very long.

"It does…eh?" Mara's saber flew into her hand and ignited it. The blue blade crackled and hissed in her hands as she moved into a graceful series of moves.

Luke could only stand and stare, entranced by the woman he loved as she spun and leapt across the exercise hall. "Mara!" he called.

She came to a sudden halt, shut the saber down and returned it to her belt. "A training saber," she drawled as she walked back up the exercise hall to stand before him. "Is that because you lost part of yours?"

"What?" Luke felt a shiver run up his spine.

Mara took a step closer, almost invading his personal space. "Your saber doesn't work and hasn't worked since you came for me on Elrood," she stated.

"It does work," Luke shot back.

Mara raised an eyebrow. "Prove it," she challenged.

"It does work," he repeated, his mouth only inches from hers. "Just not quite as I want it to," he finished lamely. "How do you…?"

"How do I know?" Mara completed his question. "I know because…" She let her words tail off and dug into her pocket.

Luke felt something quiver in the Force between them. "Just tell me," he said, his voice low. "Please, Mara."

"This happens every time I…"

"What happens?"

Mara took a deep breath, preparing herself for the inevitable slew of images that she would see as soon as her fingers came into contact with the emerald crystal. Her fingers touched the multifaceted edges of the jewel and Luke's face went white. This time neither of their shields were strong enough to keep out the pictures that assaulted them.

Moving together, Luke and Mara clung to one another, sinking to their knees onto the ground until the whirling visions stopped and they tried to make sense of what they had experienced.

A man dressed in a richly glowing fabric, held a captive, red-haired woman close to his body, his hands running over her scantily clad form as if he owned her. The woman struggled to free herself but could not and struck out at him, her hand connecting hard with the side of his face. A thin rivulet of blood ran from the corner of his mouth. But instead of anger, he laughed; his eyes a cold wintry silver as he lowered his head to kiss her.

Luke put his head in his hands. "Sith," he mumbled. The secret was out in its entirety. Mara was too sharp not to know what the vision meant. But he couldn't understand how and why these visions were occurring.

Mara stared hard at Luke as comprehension dawned. "That was you? I remember lashing out - anything to get free but very little else. I only knew that I felt safe for the first time in a long while," Mara whispered, disbelief written on her face. "I've been dreaming about this man – he seemed so familiar but I never associated him with you." As her mind ran over the events she realised that the kiss hadn't been a perfunctory peck. Lips clung and softened; she had kissed him back, her body starting to burn for his and he had not been immune. "Why didn't you just tell me everything from the beginning?"

"I don't know. I had to get you out of there. I was playing a part," Luke said gravely, lifting his head, his eyes finally meeting hers, pain evident in their blue depths. "It was the only way to get close enough. I hoped you might have recognised my presence but you were too ill by then."

Mara moved in closer to the Jedi Master, needing the comfort that only he could provide. He was only partly wrong - she hadn't recognised him…but her body had.

Luke curved his arm around her shoulders and drew her close into his side. "It's over now. You can move on, Mara. It's time to forget all about it."

"I can't." Mara shook her head and, stretching out her hand, she uncurled her trembling fingers. "This belongs to you," she said softly. The emerald crystal glittered on her palm as if it were alive. "This is why I know."

Luke gasped. "How…where?"

"The Force?"

Luke pulled her until she was facing him, his hands moving to her shoulders. "Where did you get this?"

"Aaris III. Here…take it. It belongs to you."

But Luke made no move to do so. "You went back there?" his tone was incredulous.

"I obtained this from the hand of the being responsible for my capture," Mara returned proudly.

Luke's face stiffened.

"I didn't kill him…not intentionally," she babbled when she saw the look on Luke's face. "He fired on me…wanted to take me prisoner again. I found my lightsaber in my hand and blocked the bolt. I didn't even think about what I was doing. It was automatic." Mara turned her head away. She couldn't bear to see his disappointment.

"You returned to face him and he faced the consequences of his violence." Luke's face went even paler as he thought about the danger under which she had placed herself. He was ashen under his tan. "You've got guts,, Mara but then I always recognised that you were one of the bravest beings I knew." She'd faced such dangers in the past but that was before he had known her and loved her.

He wasn't upset by what she had done. He'd been worried about her safety. "No…that was not my intent," she explained earnestly. "I would have been quite happy never to see any of them again but I had to see where I'd been held. I tried to remember what had happened to me but it was all a blank and then I felt this…" She shivered. "I felt cold."

"The cold feeling of evil," Luke said.

"The slave lord had returned to his damaged headquarters probably to collect his most valuable possessions. He wanted to take me prisoner again and said things I did not understand although it is clear now what he meant. You posed as some Outer Rim prince and paid for me with your lightsaber crystal. You took the heart out of your lightsaber for me." Mara's voice shook as she suddenly understood the enormity of what Luke had done for her. He had risked his life for her. No one had ever paid her such a great honour.

"It was the only thing of value that I had," he said simply, naked pain on his face. "And you are worth more to me than I could ever say. I could make another crystal. In fact I have made another crystal – I just didn't do it quite right. A Jedi Master who makes mistakes," Luke admitted rather wryly. "But you are unique. There can never be another you." Luke shifted restlessly under her intent regard before continuing. "I couldn't fight my way out. You were unconscious and the place was too well guarded – there were too many lives at stake. I had to find another way."

"So you walked in and took me from under their noses."

"Right in front of their noses actually," Luke said with a hint of pride. "I nearly gave Han and Feenus heart failure."

"Feenus?"

"Former friend of Han's from his Imperial days. Feenus and his wife were a big help getting you out. They run the Anti-Slavers coalition the New Republic is so keen to have on their side when they talk to the Elrood Sector governments"

"You sound as if you liked her." Mara felt a stab of jealousy as she heard the warmth in Luke's voice as he spoke about the other woman.

"I did. Altra Adremetis was a nice lady. I think you would have got on well with her."

"And you bought me." Mara's eyes narrowed.

"Uh…yes."

There was an awkward silence as they both sought to get their thoughts under control. Mara held out her hand and the jewel glittered as if it were alive, something vital flickering in its depths. "Your crystal."

"Paying me back?"

Regaining my freedom," she said shortly.

"Are any of us free?" Luke queried. "You've always been free in my eyes, Mara. Of course, I could hold you to it and say that I bought you for the Jedi. What good is that now? You can pay me back as you are holding your price in your own hand. You could walk away any time you wanted to. I have no hold over you."

Mara knew differently. 'You do,' she thought. 'More than you could ever know.' "And the kiss?" Mara flushed. She hadn't meant to mention that.

A strange hunted expression crossed Luke's face. "The kiss?" he croaked. "It was an act," he muttered, waves of emotion flowing through his shields.

Mara frowned, hiding her disappointment. Part of her had hoped that he had meant that first kiss. So the first one had been an act and the second an accident but she knew they had both felt something. Could she get him to kiss her a third time? He was still hiding from her and if she'd wanted to she could have found out what was bothering him but found herself afraid of what she might discover. "Your crystal, farmboy?"

Luke reached out and closed his hand over Mara's. His hand was warm, strong and a little rough – the calluses speaking of his early life on the moisture farm, time with the Rebellion filled with meeting physical challenges and many hours spent wielding a lightsaber. "Keep it," he said, his voice husky. "I've made another one."

"But it doesn't work," Mara countered.

"It will."

"I'll keep it until I become a Jedi Knight," Mara stated. "Then you can have it back."

"It's a deal."

"Now you're talking like a trader." She stared into his eyes and moistened her dry lips. Luke's eyes avidly followed the little movement of her tongue. "You bought me for the Jedi, Skywalker."

Luke's face showed his distress. "Mara…No!"

She placed her hand over his mouth. "Ssh! You did. If you hadn't, I would not have survived long enough to join you here on Yavin."

They sat huddled together for an age just drawing comfort from one another. Mara realised that she felt safe, warm and…loved. She had sensed that feeling many times over the past ten years but hadn't associated it with Luke. She should have done - now she did. She could feel a thread running between them, tying them together.

She was in love with him. There was no doubt in her mind whatsoever. She loved Luke Skywalker. She'd never known real love from another person and had doubted for many years that she had the capacity. But Luke had always stated that she could do anything she wanted to. He always had faith in her abilities. She should have felt angry but instead held only a bittersweet hope that she could spend as much time with him as possible. He was fond of her but didn't love her in the way a man loves a woman. He was her friend and she could be satisfied with that. He had heard her call for him right across the galaxy and had answered that cry for help. He always would.

But the torrid images of her and Luke wrapped together in a lover's embrace stayed with her.

"Luke…"

"What is it?"

"You can hear me call, just like Palpatine could."

Luke swallowed nervously and finally let go of her hand. "Yes. I'm not exactly sure why or when but sometime after you carried out the last command for the Emperor and killed my clone you transferred the link you had with him…to me."

"Oh."

"Mara, listen," Luke pleaded. "This wasn't my doing…or yours. It just happened but it seems to be getting stronger. I was the only other Force strong individual in your vicinity."

"Leia was there."

"By that time you had spent much more time alone with me. And perhaps I knew that you would not betray me," Mara said soberly. "I cannot control the link."

"Not yet. But you link with me when your emotions are heightened."

So if I'm upset, afraid…"

"Or angry."

"I can hear your thoughts."

"I knew you were asleep on Yavin once," Mara commented. "That was the first time I did it without a strong emotion being involved." She stared accusingly at him. "So that's why you are shielding so heavily around me."

Luke hesitated. "Ah…"

"I know you, farmboy."

"You do, don't you? I didn't want you to think that I'd take advantage of you like Palpatine did," Luke said quietly. "I would never want you to think that about me."

"I know you well enough by now, Luke, and I'm not angry. I realise why you didn't tell me although I wish that you had." Mara gazed into the vivid blue eyes and wished she could just lose herself. "Luke…I…" Her lips parted and she could feel her senses calling out to his.

Luke jumped to his feet. "I think we should have this sparring session," he said briskly.

"Training sabers, huh?" Mara said, arching a red-gold eyebrow.

"Why not? Think you can beat me, Jade?"

"With a training saber?" Mara got to her feet, wishing his arms were still around her. "Just watch me."

"I give." Mara cried as she slumped to the floor and lay still.

"Good," panted Luke. "I've no energy left." He slid down onto the soft matting which covered the floor, his chest rising and falling steadily as his heartbeat returned to normal. "You have improved, Jade."

"I've improved. So I should hope. I still can't measure up to you in a saber fight, Skywalker. You've been holding back on me over the years. I suspect you may even have been throwing a few fights so that I could win." Then she remembered that this man had fought Darth Vader and survived…twice. Not many could make that claim for a first time.

"Nonsense," Luke replied but his tone lacked conviction. She had found him out. "It's getting harder and harder to keep ahead of you, Jade. I'm having to do extra practice just to stay ahead."

Mara was touched at the compliment. "Thank you."

"Don't mention it…however…"

"I know." Mara tried to cut him off as he began to mischievously outline where she had gone wrong.

"I'll do better next time. Mara stood up and pulled Luke by the hand. "Here, put your tunic back on. Let's go and have a look at that saber of yours. I have a theory."

"You do?" Luke smiled at her, pulling his tunic roughly over his head leaving his hair standing on end.

"Yes." Mara smoothed down the sticking up strands. "There," she said. "All the little Jedi can see you looking presentable."

"Mara!" Luke protested and self-consciously flattened his hair even further.

They walked slowly back to his quarters and once inside. Luke led Mara to his workbench and pulled away the concealing cover. "Look." He pointed to the work in progress.

Mara handed Luke the crystal and watched as he fitted it inside the saber next to the darker green of the new one. "Try it now," she said.

Luke grinned at her and extended the blade. For a moment it did exactly what it was supposed to do and then sputtered into darkness.

"Damn!"

Mara's face fell. "I was so sure it was going to work."

"It will work eventually. The saber isn't set up for two crystals and the wiring needs repairing. To be honest I think that's the real problem and…" He opened the casing, peered critically at the new crystal and then removed the emerald green jewel he'd used to buy back Mara's freedom. "I want to just tap a little fraction off that facet there." He pointed at one of the smooth edges of the new crystal. "I think that's the one. Just a sliver." He placed his saber back on the bench and grasped Mara's hand with his own. "But it was a good plan."

"Not good enough," she said, her face downcast.

"Hold out your other hand." Luke dropped the emerald crystal into her palm. "You can pay me back once you are a Jedi. That still holds."

Yavin IV – several months later

Luke settled into his chair and activated his holonet link. He was alone in his quarters as Mara had expressed a desire to go to the small but well-equipped gymnasium. The arrangement was working well. Tionne had said there were vacant rooms but Luke had muttered some excuse. He liked having his apprentice near him. It worked well and he was able to monitor her progress and deal with any problems as they arose.

The vid-screen coalesced into the familiar features of his brother-in-law. Han had left several messages over the past few weeks and it was only now that Luke was able to catch up with him.

"Hey, Kid!"

Luke grinned. "Han, old buddy."

"Less of the old," Han chastised the younger man. "Too long since we spoke, Junior."

"I talked to you…just last month."

Han shook his head. "Try the month before that."

Luke blinked in shock. "I knew I'd been busy but…"

"How's things?" Han winked. "I don't want to say too much, just in case you have…"

Luke gave a wry smile. "It's okay; she's not here. She's gone to the gym and she's fine."

"I was just coming to the subject of Jade," said Han. "I thought with Mara on Yavin you would settle down a bit but you seem to still be flying across half the galaxy."

Luke sighed. "Blame Mon Mothma and your wife for that."

"Perhaps it's that you're in too much of a hurry to get back to Jade that keeps you away from the rest of your family."

"She's my apprentice, Han. I have a duty to her."

"Yeah, right." Han's voice was sardonic. "That's what you're telling yourself these days, kid?"

"It's the truth," Luke said quietly.

"How are you getting on with her training?"

Luke's eyes glowed and his face lost the distant expression that Han saw more and more. The naïve, open farmboy had changed into a reserved man. "She's so strong in the Force and so dedicated to her training. She's determined to complete it this time and I'm sure she will succeed. I hope to be able to take her on some of my forthcoming missions. I think she will learn so much more by doing that."

Han's lop-sided grin appeared. "You may be foolin' yourself, kid. But you ain't foolin' me."

"Fooling?" Luke queried carefully. "Why would I try to do that?"

"You're in love with her."

"With Mara?" Luke gave a casual chuckle. "Nonsense."

Han shook his head slowly. "It's not nonsense and you know it."

Luke's shoulders sagged a little. Han had known him for too long and was harder to hoodwink than his sister. "When did you guess?"

"Kid, the first time I saw you two together I knew there was something more than hostility and hot air between you. It wasn't love back then. Oh sure, love can be instant like caf but that kind doesn't always last. I've never trusted that kind of feeling. Real love comes from knowing a person inside out and accepting their faults as well as their strengths. You have to be ready for the good times and the bad and you have to trust them."

"You have it all figured out," Luke commented.

"I know you and your penchant for dangerous or unsuitable women. Mara is the most dangerous of the lot so, of course, she's the one you fall for. Although she's far from being unsuitable - quite the opposite."

"Oh!"

"You trust her," Han stated.

"Of course, I trust her."

"And you must admit you've had your highs and lows with her?"

"I guess…"

"You're in love with her."

"So what if I am in love with her?" Luke asked, pulling together the tattered remains of his façade. "What difference does it make?"

"She does know, doesn't she? You did tell her?"

"Yes, she knows."

"Kid, you could tell her that you love her – that you went careering across the galaxy to save her life without hope of anything more than a grudging thank you in return and almost wiped yourself out in the process."

"And then what?" Luke's face and voice were remote as he distanced himself from his own feelings. "I'm a Jedi Master."

"What's that got to do with it?" Han expostulated.

"Everything. I have given my life to the Jedi and Mara is my apprentice. She will be a Jedi too."

"But you shouldn't have to do it alone."

"I'm not alone. I have the Jedi." Luke was unfaltering.

"That's not what I meant, Junior, and you know it. Stop trying to twist me into knots. It won't work."

"I cannot ask any woman to take on the uncertainties and the difficulties of my life."

Han held his hands up. "Mara Jade is not just any woman."

"Do you think I don't know that?" Luke lost a little of his poise. "She's the one woman that would…could understand." He shrugged. "But it's not to be."

For the first time in many years Han felt like inflicting some damage on his nerf-headed brother-in-law. "Luke…" he pleaded. "Listen to yourself."

"I have and I am. Jem, Gaeriel, Akanah, Callista," he listed. "Look what happened when I tried to live a normal life – when I didn't consider who or what I am."

"Bantha-shit," Han swore. "You don't do normal, Kid. None of these…ladies…were Mara Jade and you didn't love them the way you love her. Normal for Mara Jade is the same as for you and I."

Luke re-adopted his Jedi Master face. "Yes, I do love her but that is the end of it. Love fades with time."

"No, it doesn't. Not that kind of love, Kid." Han was definite. "I saw you with her and if she had died I feared for you."

"I couldn't have lost her," Luke whispered, pain surfacing in his blue eyes. "Just knowing that she was alive somewhere in the galaxy…"

"Kid, you are the most stubborn being I know apart from your sister. Take a chance on this lady. She's worth it and wouldn't let you down."

"I'm training her to knighthood, Han. I am her Master – in a position of trust. To embark on any sort of relationship would be unethical."

"Rubbish," Han dismissed instantly. "She's an adult. You…I'm not so sure about. We're back to using one of Threepio's more common words. 'Improper.'" He grinned. "For a droid fluent in over six million forms of communication he does get hung up on certain phrases."

"But he's right."

"Luke, the Jedi are starting to pair up. Why shouldn't you do the same? You have a right to a home and a family the same as everyone else. And don't say that the Jedi are your family. I'm not buying it."

"Han…"

"Look at Corran and Mirax…"

"They paired up before Corran knew he was a Jedi."

Han grinned. "He didn't ditch her when he found his lightsaber worked, did he?"

"No."

"Well, then. And what about the Solusars. Kam and Tionne seem to be very contented together."

"They are happy," Luke said lamely.

"Luke and Mara Skywalker sounds good to me too, Kid. I don't think there is one Jedi on this jungle moon that would begrudge you a loving relationship."

"All the woman I've ever loved have been doomed in some way. I can't let myself…"

"Can't let! Luke, it's too late for that. You do love her."

Luke could almost feel Han's exasperation all the way from Coruscant as the Corellian glared at him from the vid-screen.

"I have the Jedi and the Force," Luke said sadly.

"Of all the thick headed, pathetic, stubborn…!" Han stopped and took a deep breath. "You're beginning to repeat yourself and it doesn't sound too convincing to me. Have you ever considered that the Force might have sent Mara to cross your path?"

"Yes, I did. I was meant to train her to knighthood. She is destined to be a great Jedi."

"Maybe she is. Have you still got Tatooine sand filling your ears? Where's Chewie when I need him to give the rocks inside your head a little shake? What if Mara is meant for you as a mate?"

"But she doesn't love me, Han."

"She's told you that?"

"Well…No."

"So how do you know? You haven't asked her. You've made no attempt to charm her. Love has to be worked at. Oh, I forgot," Han said mockingly. "You've given up."

Luke had no comeback.

Han gave his familiar lop-sided grin and added his final killer comment. "She didn't want Lando or any of the smuggler guys in Karrde's employ and she could have had any of them if she wanted to. She's come all the way out to mouldy old Yavin IV to train with you. I think she's keener on you than you suspect."

"I think you're seeing things that aren't there," Luke muttered. "She came to complete her Jedi training. What other reasons are there?"

Han rolled his eyes. "What ya gonna do, Kid?"

"Nothing."

"You're being a fool, Luke."

"What else can I do? She means too much to me to lose her. I would rather have her in my life as a friend than not at all."

"I still think you're wrong, Kid. You should take that chance. It could be your last."

"You're in love with her."

Mara froze. She was hearing things.

It was late and Mara had returned to Luke's quarters to get ready for bed after her session in the gymnasium. Luke had returned from some mission the day before and she'd hoped to have one of their late night chats. Every time he went away she missed him more and more. If she trained harder perhaps he would take her with him the next time.

She'd been on Yavin IV for almost six months and Luke had been away for nearly half of that time. The New Republic just expected him to jump when they called for his aid and it was wearing him out. He had tried to argue against going but the Senate had sent Leia to plead with him to go.

Her awareness and strength in the Force was growing. She could sense more than she'd ever been able to in the past. It also brought her a greater understanding of the man she was linked to so strongly. When he was away she concentrated on being with the other Jedi, learning to work as one of a team, picking up some of the more basic skills she'd missed out on. Even simple things like playing the games she should have played as a child – making flower shapes in a tank of pink sand or guiding balls through a maze. When Luke was home they spent most of their time together, talking, discussing philosophy, history and honing her skills. She was nearly ready and they both knew it.

Luke was in the area he used as his office and hadn't heard her come in. He'd arrived from Force knows where the day before and Mara wasn't even sure if he'd slept properly since he'd returned. She heard him chatting to someone on the private holonet link he'd had installed in his quarters. Probably more business the New Republic couldn't handle without him and then something - a phrase or a comment - had arrowed its way into her brain.

"You're in love with her."

Luke was in love with someone. Mara's mouth went dry and her heart began to thump loudly inside her chest. He couldn't be…

"With Mara? Nonsense."

"It's not nonsense and you know it."

'With me?' she thought. Mara shivered, shoving her shields to their maximum and she slipped inside her bedchamber. Leaving the door ajar, Mara pressed her body as close to the door as she dared and tried to catch more of the conversation. She soon realised that Luke was speaking to Han Solo and it was Han who had uttered the fatal words. Mara couldn't believe that Luke was only making a half-hearted attempt to deny Han's opinion. Did the Jedi Master see her as more than Jedi material?

"But she doesn't love me."

'I do,' Mara thought, wrapping her arms protectively around her own body. 'I do love him.'

"What are ya gonna do, Kid?" Han's voice echoed around the apartment.

"Nothing."

That single word stopped the frantic emotions which tumbled through Mara until she was ready to scream. He loved her as much as she loved him and then…nothing. Luke wasn't going to do anything? He was going to ignore this feeling that linked them across the universe?

Mara let her door noiselessly shut and sank down onto her narrow bed. Luke was in love with her but wasn't going to do anything about it. He had the Jedi and the Force but didn't need Mara Jade enough.

No, he did need her – she knew that he did. There was one way to make sure but she couldn't ask Luke yet. She had to get out of their quarters before Luke realised she was in her room and could have overheard his conversation. Quickly, she assessed her bedchamber. She could exit through the window. It was large enough. Opening the catch, she slid it open enough for her to be able to slide through and dropped silently onto the soft grass beneath. Keeping her shields up, Mara sped through the trees until she arrived at the main building.

The gym was always deserted at this hour. It was as good a place to go as anywhere. The majority of the Jedi seemed to prefer pounding through the jungle en masse rather than attach themselves to a running machine. She set an aggressive pace and began to jog, all the time her mind selecting solutions for her new found problem.

"I thought I might find you here." Luke's voice cut into her confused self-absorption.

Mara hit the stop button and slid off the machine ending up right in front of Luke. Tilting her head, she stared up at the man in front of her. She stretched out with the Force but was careful not to probe at Luke's shields. Once she'd found it so hard to read other beings but now…layers shifted and then she could feel it. Yes, she felt the warmth and it was directed solely at her. Yet it was more than friendship and in the light of her discovery she could now see that. He was in love with her? Mara smiled. Of course he was. She could feel it through their bond in the Force.

Mara fleetingly considered their bond. As soon as they'd met, this link had formed between them and it was still there, stronger than ever after Luke's training. He loved her so why…?

"What is it, Luke?" she asked. "Are you going away again?"

"No, there are no plans to send me anywhere. I told Leia that I needed time to spend on Yavin and to ask someone else. Kyp Durron should be available. If not, I said get Corran to do what was needed. My sister wasn't totally convinced."

"But she came round."

"Yes, she did."

"Good, because otherwise I would have had words with the Senate, your sister and Mon Mothma…"

"I can see you lining them up," Luke said, amused at her vehemence on his behalf.

Mara lifted a hand and pushed an overlong lock of hair away from Luke's face. "They need to give you time to recover."

"I'm fine," he said.

"Of course you are. I think you need a trim," she said, staring at his hair critically. "And you are looking tired, farmboy."

"I'm not…"

"You are. Stop arguing. No one else will have guessed – they don't look deep enough."

Luke gave her a weary smile. "We don't let them look deep enough. We project an image of how we want ourselves to be perceived."

"Very profound, farmboy."

"I am the Jedi Master," Luke joked. "I can 'do' profound."

Mara slipped her arm through his and frowned as he suddenly winced. "Come on, Karrde sent me a store of that hot chocolate you like so much."

"He did, eh!"

They returned to their quarters. Mara moved into the galley kitchen and put on the water heater. Filling a small bowl, she collected a supply of bacta wipes and soft cloths. "Okay, Skywalker. Tunic off."

"What!"

Mara tapped her foot impatiently. "Don't argue – you're hurt."

"Aw, Mara." But reluctantly he complied. She had a look on her face that meant business.

The livid bruising which marred his strong chest drew a gasp of horror from her. "I thought this was a peaceful, diplomatic mission?"

"Not everyone thought so."

"Do Leia and the others know about this?"

"I mentioned it, yes."

"Did you actually tell them you were hurt? Or did you bury that piece of information in the depths of a report that no one will ever read properly?"

Luke's eyes darted away from hers. Mara put down her medical supplies, her hand gently cupped his cheek. "You didn't tell them, did you?"

Luke shook his head. "No...well, I said there were some problems but… Nothing's broken, Mara. I'm just bruised."

"Sit down." She pointed to the sofa and picked up her bowl. "I think there are bruises on top of bruises here, farmboy. This is some colour spectrum. I once had a dress that exact shade of purple."

"You did?"

"I looked terrible in it. Clashed with my hair," she said dismissively. "Next time, I'm coming with you whether I'm fully trained or not. This can't happen again."

"I was going to ask you…ouch!" Luke tried to refrain from flinching as Mara's gentle touch soothed the bacta wipe over his bruised skin.

Her eyes softened at his obvious discomfort and she tried to divert him from the pain. "Did your saber perform as you wanted it to?"

"Yes," Luke muttered, closing his eyes. He had shaved a tiny piece off his new lightsaber crystal, rewired the internal components and prepared the casing to be able to hold another jewel if one came along.

Mara was alarmed at the colour his face had gone. "Sit there for a moment longer," she ordered, her brisk voice hiding her concern. "I can fetch the med droid or Dilys if you want. It might be better to get that looked at, farmboy."

"No," Luke said quietly. "Just you. I told you - it's only bruised. It would only alarm them."

"If you are sure?"

"I'm sure."

Mara removed the bowl and returned to the kitchen. A few moments later she knelt in front of a sleeping Luke Skywalker. If he'd awoken at that moment and gazed into her eyes he would have seen the love she was trying to hide. But things were different now. He loved her but something told her that it wasn't the right time to reveal that love.

"Hey!" she whispered gently, laying a hand on his shoulder. "You can't sleep here."

"Mara?" He opened heavy lidded deep blue eyes and her heart turned over.

"Yes, farmboy." She helped him up and pulled him through to his bedroom. "Sit," she said and knelt down, pulling off his boots. "I've left your hot chocolate beside the bed. I want you to drink it and then put yourself into a healing trance. No arguments, please."

"You're not going to get any," Luke managed to say.

"Good." Mara hesitated and then dropped a kiss on his forehead. "I'll see you tomorrow, Luke."

He nodded, reaching out for his mug of chocolate, something unfathomable in his eyes as he watched her leave his room.

Mara waited for half an hour and then checked on the Jedi Master. She didn't trust him not to be sitting up reading. She closed the blinds and turned to stare at the figure lying in the bed. He'd pulled off his black pants, leaving himself in his snug undershorts, and collapsed dead-to-the-world. Mara pulled a blanket over him and shook her head.

Grabbing her cloak, she left the apartment and headed to the main com centre. There was no way she could risk Luke waking up while she was in the middle of this conversation. Luckily the com centre was empty. If someone came in, she could always claim that she was contacting Karrde.

"Hello, Solo. It's Mara Jade."