Disclaimer: very simple. NOT MINE! It's Sir Gallant George Lucas's. Like I said. Not mine. Big fish in a little pond and little fish in a big pond!!!!....what does that have to do with anything?

Note: THANK YOU FOR YOUR REVIEWS!!!!!!!!!!! Uh.. yeah. I guess I'll write on this story when I feel like it. So these posts all at once are probably going to be rare.. ohwell. You guys can survive :)

OMG OMG!! This is really rather scary. I'm in the middle of writing this and MSN notifies me that I've gotten two new emails from ! Reviews! Dear god I love you all!

Update: OH MY GOD MORE OF THEM!!! XD it's a flood!!!

Oh BTW- all of you who haven't go and read any of Ash Darklighter's stories. They're all VERY good! Highly recommended! /shameless advertising ;)

Shutting up now. Here you have it: chapter three!

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Yavin IV

Back in the apartment, Mara cleaned up and braided her hair in a gentle shining plait that hung nearly to her waist. With her belt slung around her slender hips and her lightsaber hanging from it, she sauntered back into the main living room of the apartment. Luke sat on the couch, flipping through a holobook. He glanced up when she entered.

"Hey, Mara." Luke waved a data pad. "Schedule?"

"Sure." She plunked down on the couch beside him and glanced at the nearly empty timetable. Half an hour later they had everything all set out and Luke sent it off to Tionne.

"Now. Since I'll be handling a good amount of your training as your Master, why don't we review the Jedi Code?"

"Luu-uuke…"

"No moaning, Jade. Now…"

"'There is no emotion; there is peace'. I disagree with that. Yes, there is peace, but how can there be no emotion?"

The debate over the Code kept going, flying back and forth. Finally Luke glared at his grumbling stomach and glanced at his chrono: time for dinner.

"We'll have to continue later, Mara."

"Farmboy getting hungry?"

"What can I say? I'm always growing."

---

"Back to 'a Jedi does not fear anything, for fear is a merchant of the dark side'." Luke and Mara were back on the couch, the Jedi Master's loud stomach quieted for the time being, large mugs of steaming cocoa cradled in their hands. "I can't believe you're fighting against this one so strongly."

"But fear can increase your senses, and heighten reflexes- I agree that too much is a bad thing, but a touch of fear is something that is usually beneficial." Mara yawned, covering it with one hand, and began to speak again.

"Hush, Mara, and finish your cocoa. You're nearly asleep."

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The next morning Luke was still sound asleep when Mara got up. Glancing at the timetable he had stuck haphazardly in the kitchen, she saw he didn't have classes until noon- except for 'apprentice training'. She smiled. With an hour to kill and Luke still asleep she figured she'd do some… rearranging.

Turning on her heel she glared at the living room. Ever since she had first stepped into the apartment she had been frustrated with the layout of the living room. A tired, preoccupied Jedi Master who always wore black might not notice, but Master Trader Mara Jade did and was determined to do something about it.

Deciding to use it as a Force exercise as well she focused and smiled as the couch rose in the air and shifted; even as it hovered she mentally moved the coffee table out of the way. A few minutes later the living room was rearranged and Mara set to work fluffing up pillows and dusting off plants.

An hour later the living room was rearranged and tidy. Mara flopped down on the couch with a grateful sigh and slipped into a light doze, mentally exhausted from her Force manipulation. Luke emerged from his bedroom just then, running a hand through sleep-ruffled hair, and came down the hall.

"What the…" He looked around, mouth slightly open as he surveyed the rearranged room. When his eyes fell upon the sleeping Mara, he smiled, eyes softening. Walking over to her, softly, he gently touched her cheek and suddenly retreated as she moved as if awakening.

She stayed asleep, however, and Luke decided to brave it and tucked a lock of red-gold hair back behind one ear. She stirred and gently, with the Force, Luke let her lay along the couch instead of sitting at a crooked angle like she had been. Locating the blanket, he unfolded it and covered her with it.

Reaching into the Force he felt the echo of a lot of manipulation and smiled. She was learning to use it to her advantage. Hesitating, he turned and blew her a kiss- on impulse- before disappearing back into his bedroom to burrow through his closet.

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Mara woke and found herself covered with a blanket and intensely comfortable. She opened her eyes slowly, not really wanting to wake up.

"Hey, sleepyhead." Oddly enough after missing her lesson, his voice was kind. "Deciding to wake up now?"

Jade mumbled what might have been an affirmative.

"You know, you missed lunch."

A groan came from the drowsy redhead. Luke grinned. "If you decide to wake up, I brought you some food."

Mara's eyes opened and she blinked; sitting up she smiled at Luke, smoothed her hair, and pulled the tray onto her lap. As she began to eat, Luke commented, "I like what you did with the room."

She blushed and ducked her head. "It needed it…"

"You're right; it did. I just never took the time to fix it."

"When do you want to make up for the missed lesson?"

"No need to. You used the Force quite well to aid you in rearranging my apartment. You don't need much instruction before you can become a Knight, Jade. You almost know enough."

Mara finished her food; Luke called for a droid to come pick up the trays and turned to Mara. "You still look tired."

"I guess I am."

"Did you get any sleep last night?"

"Slept like a log. Putting me through the third degree?"

"Do I need an excuse to worry about my student?" 'There's something else…'

"No, not really. Although, if you're going to order me to go take another nap, you could busy yourself trying to find what's wrong with my lightsaber." She held it to him and yawned.

"You get to do that yourself, Jade, but I'll help. Hop off to bed if you want. I'll do some meditation or maybe I'll read."

"You meditate all too much as it is." 'I suppose Karrde's missions really wore me out...'

"Go to sleep, Mara." He smiled at her, a bit of an odd smile that seemed to catch her eyes and draw her towards him. "I'll tell Kam you won't be in his class."

"Thanks…" She went off towards her room, the door clicking silently behind her.

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After Luke commed Kam Solusar about Mara's absence, he sat down on the couch to attempt to meditate (despite Mara's admonishment) and found he couldn't. Mara's Force-sense flooded his mind and he couldn't think of anything else besides the beautiful trader- not as an asset to the Jedi, but as herself, and found himself incredibly attracted to her.

'Why wouldn't I be? She is beautiful, and so lovely- and her personality and attitude and everything just seems to push everyone else away, but it's so easy for me to love her- what?'

Then Luke, Jedi Master, seeming embodiment of the part of the code saying 'There is no emotion', realized that he was in love- with Mara Jade.

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Reviewers: OH MY GOD I LOVE YOU ALL!!!!

Dragonzflame: shut up. ;) (no worries everyone else, I know this particular twit IRL…)

Ninjaturtle: you do know I was just teasing about the number, right?

MaraJadeSkywalkerJedi and angelmine: here you go!

Ariapaige: I know, I liked it better too. First one kinda had all the ideas for a story all smashed in one and it made stuff… fast moving and confusing. :)

Sithspawned and SailorLeia: :D cheepy cheepy! (don't ask…)

The Good Twin: you know, I didn't think of that. Well, a Jedi knows no fear, right? He'll get over it. I was thinking Hoth (there is the wampa there however) or maybe Smuggler's Moon… perhaps a sequel? (NOT SAYING I WILL WRITE ONE!! I am amazed I am actually still writing this!!! But your wonderful reviews will keep me writing!! Thank you one and all!!! Anyway…)

InsaneJediGirl: so do I. hence why it's in the story!