Tenel Ka sighed and brushed a stray wisp of hair out of her face. She paused and looked around, taking in the familiar scents as she breathed.

The sunlight sifted down through the heavy morning mist, setting the entire valley aglow. She could distinguish at least six different shades of green and gold as she stared down the side of the mountain.

'You coming?" She looked away and saw Jacen waiting for her farther up the slope.

She nodded and started up the trail towards him, picking her way over rocks and tree roots.

Jacen waited until she was beside him before turning and continuing up the trail.

"You have been running while I was gone." Tenel Ka stated, following him easily up the rugged slope.

'Not ever day." He admitted. " Some mornings I just haven't had any time." He pushed a large branch out of the way and waited as she passed.

Tenel Ka looked at him in amusement. "Master Skywalker is keeping you busy?"

Jacen's smile became wry. "Master Skywalker has nothing to do with it."

Tenel Ka stared at him incredulously, but said nothing as she watched him turn and jump over a fallen tree.

"You have never said where Jaina is." She finally said, climbing the slope quickly to catch up.

Jacen turned his head in surprise. " She's not here." He frowned apologetically. "I thought you knew."

Tenel Ka shook her head. "Where is she, then?" she scanned the area around her as she walked, trying to figure out where they were going.

"She kept the Twin Suns together after the war," Jacen explained, "and she and Kyp and Colonel Fel have been training new recruits."

"I see." Tenel Ka's voice was quiet.

Jacen reached the flat in the trail and stopped. He turned, smiling. "Come on." He held out his hand. "I want you to see this."

Tenel Ka was surprised at his sudden exuberance. She took his hand and allowed him to pull her up.

"M'nythre!" She breathed in awe as she stood.

They stood on a flat, rocky overhang, looking down into a canyon that was so verdant, it was almost hard to look at.

The fierce attack and destruction from the Yuuzhan Vong had partially redirected the river's course, causing it to flow through this new canyon.

The sound of the river combined with the wind's rushing through the trees filled her ears with familiar dull roar.

Jacen glanced at her and grinned at the look on her face. He had known she would like it.

Maybe some good had come out the war.

Tenel Ka stared out across the valley, a faraway look in her eyes.

Jacen toyed with a twig in his hand, watching her out of the corner of his eye.

"You never told me why you were her." He said slowly, eyeing her carefully for a reaction.

It was barely visible. Tenel Ka sighed and looked at the ground at her feet.

"Hapes is that bad, huh." Jacen surmised, taking a seat on a nearby rock.

Tenel Ka sighed again. "It is." She confirmed quietly.

Jacen let the silence rest for a moment. "Do you want to tell me about it?"

At first, she made no sign that she had heard. Then, she moved to sit near him.

"It is difficult working with people so deceptive." She said finally.

Jacen nodded.

"And after Isan died…" Tenel Ka trailed off.

Jacen remembered the quiet, friendly blonde man that had been Tenel Ka's bodyguard since before Jacen had known her. Besides being her protector, Isan Dsel had been a friend.

"My mother-" Tenel Ka stopped and changed directions mentally. "The N'Korish have become invisible, but they are still there."

Jacen frowned at that. "Hold on. Back up. Who came with you to Yavin?" he demanded, narrowing his eyes. "And your answer had better be a name, not a negative pronoun."

Tenel Ka stood, a bemused frown on her face. "Jacen Solo, what shoktzeriae has possessed you mind to make you act this way?"

Jacen stood, too. "It's called protectiveness, and don't change the subject."

Tenel Ka's eyes glinted impishly.

Jacen wagged his head at her. "Now, your highness, I believe this is a new pastime for you, irritating me. Now, answer the question."

Tenel Ka tipped her chin up. "Ileysa came with me, though it is none of your concern."

"On the contrary," Jacen disagreed softly, "it is very much my concern."

Tenel Ka chose not to respond.

Jacen suddenly cocked his head, looking thoughtful.

"What?" Tenel Ka asked at the grin that split his face.

Jacen turned his bright face toward her. "Come on. There's someone I want you to meet."

.

"No, Ben." His mother shook her head firmly for what must have been the seventh time that conversation.

Ben pouted. "Why?"

Mara tried to keep the irritation and weariness at bay, but she was fighting a losing battle. "Because," she explained patiently, feeling the sudden urge to slam a few doors and have a long cry. "Mama doesn't have one scrap of energy left, and it takes energy-lots of it- to take you anywhere."

"Oh." Ben's face looked as if he'd been sentenced to a life of solitary confinement. "May I play with my gogoblocks?"

Mara felt hopeless. "Are those the ones that talk?"

Ben nodded in excitement.

Mara felt like the worst ogre in the universe. 'I don't think so, honey."

Ben's face fell. "Oh. Ok."

"Why don't you go get your book chips and-quietly- look at your books?" "OK." Ben tried not to look so unenthusiastic, but his three-year-old face wasn't very good at masking emotions.

Mara sighed heavily and leaned back in her chair. She wished Luke would hurry up and come home. Surely he had to be on his way already.

She glanced at the ornately decorated wallhang chronometer that had been a wedding gift from one of the Academy students all those years ago, and groaned out loud in disbelief. How could it be that only fifteen standard minutes had passed since the last time she had checked?

Not enough food. Not enough sleep. Not enough Luke. Ben. Tired- no exhausted. Stuck with no way to remedy any of those situations any time soon.

The assassin part of her had no idea whatsoever how to handle it all.

Then again, had Mara Jade the Emperor's Hand, smuggler and assassin, been able to see this far into her own future, she likely would have shot one Luke Skywalker on first contact.

There were still times when she fleetingly half-wondered if maybe that might have been the easier way.

But then, who ever said easier was better?

Mara cracked one eyelid at the sound of the door opening.

Tahiri stood in the doorway, glancing back and forth between Mara, who looked half-dead on the chair, and Ben, who was playing with carpet fibers, his datapad and book chips long forgotten.

"Hey." Mara said sleepily.

"Hi." Tahiri set the datapad in her hand on the kitchenette counter. "I brought the stuff you wanted."

"Thanks, Tahiri." Mara sat up straighter and rubbed her eyes.

Tahiri watched her for a second.

"Hey, Ben." She said finally. "How 'bout we go watch the lightsaber duels?"

The little boy's head popped up, his gaze focusing on Tahiri with an awed excitement. Abruptly, he froze, and turned to look at Mara.

"Will you do what Tahiri says?" Mara asked him.

The little red-blonde head bobbed up and down at a rate that made Mara sick to her stomach.

"Ok, then, you can go." Mara figured she was just as pleased with the idea as her son was.

Tahiri grinned down at the three year old and took his hand.

"Oh, and, Tahiri?" Mara called as the two barefoot blondes headed out the door. "Thanks."

Tahiri just smiled.