Disclaimer: I don't own Star Wars; all rights belong to the genius we know as George Lucas. Mara Jade is the creation of another genius named Timothy Zahn, while Callista Ming was created by Barbra Hambly another gifted individual. I'm just borrowing. I'm not making any type of profit off this story, I'm writing for my own enjoyment and hopefully to the enjoyment of others.

Author's Notes: Well, I'll just let you guys read.

Mayastria - Outer Rim

Luke watched gleefully as Mara's jaw dropped. It was nice knowing that he was one of the few individuals capable of giving Mara a pleasant surprise. "You - you remembered," she stammered as they landed on the planet's surface. Mara had visited the planet once during a run for Karrade and had enjoyed a couple of days on the surface.

Mayastria was one of the many leisure planets in the New Republic, but what made it unique was the policy that all information about guests visiting the planet remained confidential. No holoreporters were allowed on the surface, no bounty hunters could enter without proof that their quarry was planetside, and even then Mayastria officials for verification analyzed the proof. The same policy applied for law enforcement. However, it didn't mean that criminals seeking refuge on the planet overran the planet. Mayastria performed extensive background checks on any person before allowing him or her on the planet. It could take weeks even months before someone was approved. Plus, they had a strict ban against energy weapons, Mara was only allowed to stay on the surface because she had delivered some much needed medical supplies when the populace suffered a rare outbreak, provided that she didn't bring a single blaster or her lightsaber to the surface. And there were no outstanding warrants against her. She always wanted to comeback for a longer visit, but never seemed to have the time. Some years back she had mentioned that desire to Luke, but never imagined that the Jedi Master would recall the passing comment.

"Yeah, I even got us a suite at the S'hao Pa'ling Resort." Mara's eyes widened at the mention of the secluded and exclusive hotel in the city of Linartii. Luke gave her a bemused smile, "Being a decorated war hero and the brother of the former President of the New Republic does have its perks."

Han gave the pair a crooked grin, "Well, here we are, love to stay and chat, but I think the two of you would prefer to be alone." Chewbacca growled out something, but by the nodding of his head, Luke guessed that he was agreeing with the pilot's assessment. Then the big Wookie surprised the Jedi by giving him a big hug and ruffled his head a bit, before doing the same to Mara. Han decided to be a bit more discreet as he shook his best friend's hand. "See you guys back in Coruscant in a week, and congratulations." He told them as Luke ushered Mara out of the ship.

"Wait- aren't you going to come and pick us up?"

"No, I've arranged for transport back, don't worry about it, Mara. Thanks Han, Chewie."

"Not a problem, just relax, have fun, and try to stay out of trouble, remember, it's your honeymoon." Han teased before closing the hatch, then the couple watched as the Falcon departed back to the Inner System. As soon as the ship was no longer visible, an employee of the resort introduced himself, as he ordered droids to take their belongings and escorted them to a private air taxi to their suite.

Luke awoke slightly disoriented, and frowned as he noticed that his bed was empty. He briefly panicked as he thought he had dreamed the past weeks, before seeing Mara standing by the window. It was predawn, and although she was in her robe, her hair disheveled, her eyes showed signs of little sleep, and seemed distracted, Luke couldn't remember when she looked more beautiful. She turned to look at him at that moment and her slight frown turned into a smile, "Flattery will get you almost anything."

"Only almost?" He teased back, holding out his hand, asking her back to his side.

Her smile widened, "I'll let you know." Then her smiled flickered for a moment, which Luke noticed.

Frowning a bit Luke sat up a little straighter, "What's wrong?"

Mara shook her head before coming back to the bed, allowing her husband to wrap his arms around her. As they embraced she felt the familiar warmth and acceptance, which was her husband's love through the Force enveloping her. She smiled at the sensation, and sent him reassurances that she was fine. "I guess I'm just waiting for the other boot to drop." She told him.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, look at how we got engaged. Water filling up a room, no escape in sight, not exactly the most typical of places. Then there was the wedding, which was beautiful and I'm really not trying to complain, but there were the odd assassination attempts against us. I know I'm probably worrying about nothing, but everything seems so perfect, so wonderful, that I can't help but wonder what is going to come and disrupt it." She then gave him a lopsided smile, "Of course it could just be that I feel a bit insecure because I don't have a blaster with me."

"Mara, we're on a leisure planet, no one knows we're here except for a few people in Coruscant, the only ones allowed to contact us are Han and Leia, and I made sure that they're not to disturb us unless the New Republic declares war. Nothing is going to happen. Besides I did manage to convince the government to allow us to travel with our sabers."

"I just have this feeling..."

"Something from the Force?"

She hesitated, her eyes became unfocused for a moment, before answering, "Yes, and no. I don't feel anything sinister or anything immediate, but there is a vague sense of...of something. You're better at this type of thing that I am. You tell me."

Luke considered her words for a moment. "I suppose given who we are, it makes sense that you would feel apprehension about this trip, but whatever you're sensing, I'm not picking up."

"So I'm being overly paranoid."

He tilted his head a bit, "No, it's possible that the Force is giving you this feeling, but it's meant for you, not me, remember you have the better sensitivity to danger. I wouldn't worry about it at the moment; you did say that it wasn't anything urgent or evil."

"In that case, how do you suppose we should occupy ourselves since it's about dawn?"

Luke gave her a rare roguish smile, "I have a couple of ideas."

They spent most of the day in each other's company, but the next day, Mara insisted on going out. She wanted to show Luke part of the city and explore a bit, plus it was a good time for her to find a good gift for her husband. She'd just take him to a couple of stores and see if anything would catch his attention. It was refreshing for them to walk down a street and not have to worry about being ambushed by holocameras or to be gawked at. They were trying to find a place to eat an early lunch when she first sensed it. Even through her shock, she realized that Luke had sensed the same life force. What in the Force's name is she doing here?

Suddenly, Mara's earlier sense of foreboding became clear. She wasn't sensing something, but someone. Standing not 300 meters away from them on the other side of the busy street was Callista Ming. Mara felt the ripples of shock from Callista when she realized that Luke and Mara were staring at her. Taking a quick glance at Luke, Mara could see him steeling himself up for a confrontation between the two women, the thought amused her for a moment, but she ruefully had to admit that she had the urge to just slice the other woman in half right there and then. Returning her attention back to Callista, she noticed that the woman heading towards them.

"Mara, Luke, it's been a while." Callista stated softly.

"Yes, it has, Callista." Luke responded, his voice carefully neutral, but Mara could tell that his feelings were anything but. "How are you?"

"All right, you look well." Her tone was light, however, her eyes betrayed her true feelings. There was regret and yearning, a lot of yearning. "Did the two of you run into each other vacationing or are you two together."

"We came together." Mara confirmed, for a moment she felt pity for the woman standing in front of her. The question revealed that she had yet to hear about her marriage to Luke. "When's the last time you've accessed the HoloNet?"

A flicker of confusion came over Callista's gray eyes, "Not for several months, why, are you two on a mission?"

"No," Luke began gently and slowly. "Mara and I got married, Callista. We're here on our honeymoon."

Although she tried very hard, both Luke and Mara sensed the emotions Callista attempted to hold back. First, came the utter shock and disbelief, then slowly, acceptance, regret, and a great deal of sadness. "I see," was her strained reply before her resolve seemed to strengthen. "You have my best wishes on your marriage. If you'll excuse me, I should leave you two." She gave them a melancholic smile before turning around and soon she became lost in the crowded street.

Luke blinked a couple of times before the reality of the situation sunk in. Callista was here; alive and seemed well, and now was probably very distraught by the revelation that he was married. Then there was Mara, he realized belatedly. She was as shocked as he was about seeing Callista, and judging by the emotions he was sensing, not in a good state of mind either. "Mara."

"I think; I just want to get back to the suite." She told him.

He blinked again, Mara was never this subdue. Is it just me, or did I suddenly went from Luke Skywalker, the all powerful Jedi Master, to Luke Skywalker, the clueless farm boy from Tatooine, in three microseconds flat? "Mara," he tried again. She stopped him by placing her hand lightly over his mouth.

"This isn't the best place to have a talk," came her explanation. Luke sighed as he noticed that she had effectively slammed her mental barriers down tight, and for the most part she was correct. Hashing out what had just occurred in a public place was not what he wanted either. Still, it irked him that Mara would feel the need to block him out at the moment. He furrowed his brows, why would Mara feel the need to block him out? That would be something he'd have to ask her when they got back to their room.

It was childish and a bit stupid, but Mara didn't want Luke to know what she was feeling, not until she figured out what it meant. She was confused by the sudden influx of emotions, she could understand the source of most of them, her righteous anger, the bits of sympathy, along with a sense of disappointment, but the one she couldn't fathom was a sudden surge of insecurity.

Insecurity, what could she possibly feel insecure about? Luke loved her; she didn't doubt that, nor did she believe that he was going to leave her for Callista, yet she still couldn't shake off the festering emotion. She supposed that some of the anxiety stemmed from her concern over her husband's well-being. She was aware that Callista's reappearance threw him more that herself, but if it were only anxiety over Luke's emotions there would be no reason for her to become so closed off. No, it was something else, something she didn't want to admit to herself quite yet. And to be completely honest, something she didn't want to talk about anytime soon. I wonder if I'll be able to stall once we get back.

Luckily for her, Mara didn't need to make up an excuse. One was waiting for them. Apparently, Han had left a message for Luke that needed his attention immediately. As Luke scanned the message, Mara sensed his annoyance before his own shields went up. What was that all about? "I'm sorry Mara, but I need to-"

"I understand," grateful for the reprieve, Mara's mind quickly thought out a plan of escape. "I'll just go out for a bit. Clear my head."

"Mara-" there came that quiet pleading tone, the one asking her to stay, to open up to him. The one that she wasn't sure she could handle at the moment.

"I'll be gone for a hour, two at the most." She assured him before giving a soft peck on the cheek and then she was gone.

Luke let out an exasperated sigh as flopped himself into a chair. Things were just not going right today, and if Han's message was any indication, things weren't going to get better. When he had told Mara earlier that Han and Leia weren't allowed to contact him unless the known galaxy was about to implode wasn't a lie, but he did omit the only other reason his family may call him. Well, I should go see what exactly Han meant when he said they ran into a bit of a snag. He went over to the comm station, "So, what is it going to cost me this time?"