Watching, Waiting and Hoping – part 9

by Ash

Disclaimer; Lucasfilm owns the characters and situations used in this little tale. I'm not even bartering for a part for my ship over this. Please enjoy.

Han approached the docking bay where Mara's ship sat. The Jade's Fire sure was one impressive piece of machinery. "Ah ha!" he laughed quietly. "She's here."

It was the music that hit his eardrums first - the steady pounding of a repeating bass line, heavy and menacing. Followed by the entire arsenal of the Imperial Navy employed in a percussive capacity. If there was a melody he was hard pressed to name it. The music was very loud, sith angry and discordant.

"What the ear bustin' hell is she listening to?" Han wondered aloud.

"Mara!" he yelled as he hammered on the ship's hull. "Mara!"

Unsurprisingly there was no answer, but the hatch was down. Han quailed at the thought of entering, but he done many foolhardy deeds in his time. He couldn't help but wonder if this could be his crowning moment. "Luke will owe me big on this if it works."

Covering his ears he made his way into Mara's precious ship. "Mara!" Making his way to where the noise was loudest, Han found Mara on her hands and knees apparently rubbing away the insides of the ship with a cloth and a bucket of cleaning solution. She was absolutely filthy; the dirty streaks worked their way over her face and smudged their way down her soiled and crumpled ship suit. Still her eyes shone true and green as they pinned him in place.

She mouthed something at him, inaudible in the cacophony she was broadcasting through her internal sound system. Or should that be infernal sound system, he thought with a shudder as the din battered into his head.

Han pointed to his ears and mimed incomprehension. Mara snarled something at him and then stomped through the passageway. When the sound cut out, Han closed his eyes in bliss, opening them only to find a very irritable-looking trader wielding a bucket and a cloth in a threatening manner. It could have been worse, he told himself. It could have been her lightsaber. But she didn't look too surprised to see him there.

"What in the name of the New Republic are you doing here?"

"Can't a friend come for a visit and get a tour of your ship?"

A hastily quashed smile flickered across her face and her eyes again grew dark and stormy. "Can it, Solo. That's the most pathetic excuse I have ever heard. Why are you here, or what are you here for? If it's on behalf of that wampa-brained sand borer I will throw you out and believe me I can do it too."

"I believe you." Han said, hastily putting up his hands in appeasement. Where was a seven-foot walking carpet when you needed him? He held Mara's green gaze until it fell. "What wampa-brained sand borer?"

She turned her back on him for a second, before spinning to face him again. "Well?" She picked up the metal bucket and waved it in front of him. "I have a lot of cleaning to do and unless you plan to stay and help me, say what you have to and then go."

Han stifled a grin. Hostile wasn't the half of it. "You cleaning by hand? Haven't you got a perfectly good top of the range droid for that?"

"I wanted to do it myself." Her face began to scowl ominously. "Unless…" her voice drawled slowly. "You're here to help." Mara rattled the pail in his face.

"Uh… I have to get back."

Mara tossed her heavy red-gold plait over her shoulder and sank to her knees, rubbing furiously at some non-existent mark on the spotless bulkhead. ""So…" She said conversationally. "You gonna tell me why you're here?"

"Uh… I have a request from Leia."

She swung round and glared at him. "From Leia? You sure about this? This has nothing to do with…?" Mara clamped her mouth over whatever else she meant to say.

Han hoped her Jedi senses were as distracted as Luke's had been. "Nothing to do with what?"

Mara opened her mouth and then paused, her eyes nervous. She'd just been about to tell Han everything. Force knows she could do with the advice. But the habit of a lifetime kept the words from spilling out of her lips. Mara Jade normally kept her own counsel.

"Mara… You okay?"

"It's nothing, Solo."

Han didn't pursue it, as he didn't want Mara to guess how much he did know about her troubles. He had an inkling she wouldn't be too happy about Luke's revelations. He cleared his throat. "There's a reception tonight…" He held up his hands and rushed on. "I know this is short notice, but Leia got Winter to check the guest list and Karrde wasn't on it. We always invite Karrde to these do's.

"He's away on business, mid rim or further out I think." Mara returned to aimlessly polishing the bulkhead.

"So she discovered when she tried to contact him. He suggested you go in his place."

"Me?"

"Yeah, you usually do that kinda thing for Karrde, don't you?"

"Well, yes, but…"

"It would look odd if there was no one there from Karrde's organisation. I think even Booster's going."

"What's the reception for?"

"Darned if I know. I have to be there in my formal clothes. I'm keeping my mouth shut since my beautiful wife might have suggested I wear my dress uniform and I hate that."

Mara gave an unwilling smile. "I just turn up?"

"That's what Leia said. Your name will be on the guest list. Anyway… I need people I can talk to. There are some very dry types attending."

"Ah, like the Jedi Master. He can be rather like that," her voice was bitter.

"Luke's not like that - he'll be glad to see you. This entire Callista thing is getting him down. He's not said anything to you about it?"

Mara dipped her cloth into the bucket with a loud splash and slopped water over the offending, still spotless, bulkhead. "No," she lied.

"Oh, well, it'll give him a chance later on then. He was moaning about having to attend."

"Whining was he?" She cracked a mirthless smile.

"Hey, you two are good friends. Just stop him from doing something stupid."

"I think it's too late for that."

"Mara, he doesn't want Callista, but he doesn't know how to brutally tell her it's all over. Callie still thinks there is a chance. That's what she told Leia."

The trader sat back on her heels and stared carefully up at Han. "She said that? Figures. Luke can be too soft and trusting for his own good. But she hasn't – he doesn't love her."

The Corellian gave Mara an assessing once over. "You know, I've got an idea."

"You have? Why don't I like the sound of that?"

"It's your suspicious mind."

"Okay, Solo, I'm listening."

"Well…"

Han wandered back to Luke's ship, first collecting the discarded tools from the Falcon. When the idea had hit him he never thought that she'd actually agree to it and he still wasn't too sure that she would. Fun and games tonight after all… and he thought that the evening was going to be dull. Chuckling to himself, he ducked through the shuttle's hatch.

"Hey, kid!" he shouted cheerfully. "You managed to sort that mess or do you still need my expert help?"

Luke lifted his head and made a face at Han. "I wondered if you were coming back at all."

"Don't I always?"

"Eventually… try nearly a year and a block of carbonite later."

"You've gotten awfully brave for a kid from a dustball planet. It's those delusions of grandeur again, ain't it?"

"Funny, Solo… funny. Now are you gonna stand there all day talking or are you gonna help me?"

"I'm helping… I'm helping… see?"

State Ballroom, ImperialPalace

Leia stood watching the assembled glitterati of the New Republic and their hangers on enjoy themselves - some of them at any rate. Where was her family tonight? They weren't usually this late. Normally Han and Luke had been warned within inches of their lives to be prompt and to be smart. She knew what Han was wearing; she'd picked it out for him herself. Her brother… Force knows. Luke could turn up in anything depending on his mood and whatever he'd been doing seconds before the appointed arrival time. She smoothed an imaginary wrinkle from her white silk, gem-studded evening gown. 'Hurry up, Han,' she thought anxiously.

A rustle behind the velvet drapes made her clutch at the handle of her concealed lightsaber, but she recognised the identity of the intruder and relaxed.

"Han, you big nerf" she whispered. "What are you doing behind the curtains?"

He gave his trademark lop-sided grin and kissed her hastily on the cheek as he slid from a gap in the russet material. "I didn't want to advertise that the husband of Councillor Organa Solo was rather tardy in his arrival and used the back door. I have been intriguing with all the skills of a Bothan all day – it's a wonder I'm not later."

Leia gave a wry smile. "I knew you had it in you - I just wonder why I'm surprised, flyboy." She brushed a speck of fluff off his immaculate black jacket.

Han suffered her ministrations, knowing that it was such a wifely thing to do coming from one of the most powerful women in the galaxy. "Are they all here?"

"Who are you expecting?"

"Callista, Luke and Mara."

Leia turned her head to glance at him from the corner of her dark eyes. "You're expecting them… together?"

"'Course not." He huffed a little. "I've just spent an hour trying to persuade Luke into something with a bit of class."

"Why don't I like the sound of that," she quipped lightly.

"Hey, it's me!"

"Exactly," his wife murmured dryly. "I pick out your clothes just because of that reason."

"And… I spent at least an hour with the lovely trader Jade trying to persuade her to attend."

"Will she be here?"

"I think so."

The master of ceremonies announced a couple of semi-important dignitaries and Leia stepped forward, the personification of graciousness, to greet them. When she stepped back she murmured carefully in his ear. "Callista arrived half an hour ago. I think she's beginning to look a little impatient."

Han discreetly searched the chattering throng and located the former Jedi tall and dignified in a pale grey gown, the malt-coloured hair piled elegantly on top of her head. She stood a little to the side of a group where Han recognised some of the Rogues and their wives. 'Good,' he thought. 'She has company.'

"Leia… uh… about…"

The spousal radar was on full alert as Han muttered his wife's name. "What have you done?"

"I…" he mumbled. "Oh, here's Luke." Han thought it prudent to change the subject.

"Luke!" Leia embraced her brother before pulling away and studying his features carefully.

"I'm fine," he said, smiling.

"No, you're not. You're covering something."

"I'm okay, honest." He stepped back and examined the picture his sister made and gave a little whistle. "Where did you get this woman, Han? I swear there isn't a lovelier one at the party. If she wasn't my sister and wasn't married, I'd steal her from you."

Han laughed at the flush on his wife's face. "She is rather on the dazzling side, but then she would have to be."

"Have to be?" Luke questioned.

"To be with a gorgeous guy like me, of course."

"Does his head always swell to this size?"

"He's a Corellian," Leia remarked dryly. "It's in the genes. But I would say you were very handsome this evening yourself, brother dear."

Luke had discarded his trademark Jedi black for a suit of midnight blue. It was still soberly cut, but the hint of colour made his eyes seem even bluer than usual.

"I raided his closet," remarked Han with satisfaction. "If I had to appear like this, so had he. Male solidarity is not a thing of the past."

"You both look very nice."

"Nice!" Luke tried to seem offended at his sister's comment delivered with just the right amount of lofty condescension.

"You're both very smart and I'm proud…" Leia's voice stopped as another intruded.

"Luke, I've wondered where you were today? I haven't seen you at all."

All at once Leia noticed the energy drifting away from her brother as Callista appeared. He was definitely not all right. He shifted his feet a little from side to side and would not meet Callista's large grey eyes. Leia gave Han a quizzical glance but he was watching Luke and Callista, his expression unreadable.

"Callie…" Luke's voice trailed off a little awkwardly.

"I thought we might have come together, Luke."

"Why?"

"Because…" Callista floundered a little before mentally stiffening her backbone and saying quietly. "It would have been nice to come with a friend."

Feeling guilty, Luke took her arm and gently drew her away from Han and Leia, watched by approving eyes from around the ballroom, as they strolled together. "Look, Callie…" He sighed before continuing quietly, "They know how I feel. I don't love you. You don't have to put on an act. I can't any more. I'm fond of you and I'll always remember the good times we had. I don't want to be harsh because I'd like to still be able to call you my friend but you walked away from me and any good, or bad times that were coming to us."

"You don't know that for sure." She spoke in an undertone. "You're still punishing me for the time we spent apart."

"It's not like that at all…" He broke off impatiently, his voice low. "Look, this is not the time or place to discuss these matters."

Suddenly there was a ripple of something in the Force coupled to a frisson of excitement running through the room. Luke could instantly feel the charged energy race through him.

The master of ceremonies seemed to raise the volume of his announcement, but Luke knew it was more than that. The whole atmosphere was brighter, more electric, more real and everything else faded into insignificance beside it. All the lights on Coruscant faded in comparison to the woman framed in the doorway.

'Mara Jade'

She walked - no, Luke decided - she stalked into the room, her head held high. Every male and most of the female eyes were upon her, but she walked as if she was unaware of the interest. His eyes sought her - he was drawn to her – like to like. Callista ignored, Luke moved closer to the source of his new found torment. His eyes traced every scrap of the clinging green silk which lovingly moulded itself to her very female contours, creamy shoulders, back and neck left bare apart from a gold necklace with a fiery emerald gem at its core which hugged the valley between her breasts. A memory flashed into his mind of how she had felt under his hands, the tips of her breasts hardening proudly, of stroking down over rounded hips, her mouth softly seductive under his own. Luke willed, no, he begged, his suddenly vulnerable body to behave.

Mara held her head up as she walked into the ballroom. What had persuaded her to act like this? Not 'what' she thought, but who. Then she felt his gaze upon her as she moved gracefully towards a momentarily gaping Leia and a grinning Solo. It wouldn't be the first time she had walked into a room and set tongues wagging. Han had told her to show the Jedi Master exactly the kind of thing he might be missing. Mara lifted her head proudly and showed every man in the room precisely that. She was a temptress in dark blue-green silk topped by a crown of bright copper but all of it was only for one man. She'd pinpointed his location as soon as she'd walked into the room. He stood a little way off, with Callista just behind him.

His gaze zeroed in on her, intense and hungry. Blue flames met brilliant, sparkling green and the rest of the universe vanished. Mara felt as if she was naked in front of Luke once more and a wave of heat travelled swiftly through her.

Leia felt the flash of feeling from her brother and a similar reaction from Mara, before their barriers went swiftly up. Han stood smugly beside her and Leia knew that part of this was his doing.

"I just told you to get her here, nerfherder. What did you tell her to do?" Leia whispered. "Whatever you said to her, she looks fabulous and Luke… Luke - he looks as if he's been trampled over by a couple of dewbacks."

"I said Luke needed help and she could cheer him up" He rightly guessed that Leia wouldn't need any more information than that for the moment. "They do need to talk."

"Another argument?" Leia murmured quietly as she watched the crowd part automatically to let Mara approach her.

Han nodded, but turned to face Mara and winked. "Not bad, Jade… not bad at all."

"Can it, Solo."

Leia could see Mara had made an extra effort for this evening. The sophisticated court dress, outlining in graphic detail her spectacular figure, the emerald pendant around her neck and her burnished red-gold curls caught up in an intricate arrangement of loops, braids and curls. The effect was truly stunning and left Leia feeling a little old-fashioned.

"Good to see you, Mara," Leia spoke smoothly, but allowed an extra warmth to creep into her sense. "Han said you would help cheer up Luke and whatever he's done I'm sure he didn't mean it."

Mara turned a startled glance upon the Corellian, who winced and shook his head. He did not want Mara finding out that Luke had spilled the information faster than a prisoner in an Imperial detention centre. It was all going to come out now. Leia would not approve of all this meddling – although she had started some of it by asking Han to speak to her brother. "The argument you had with Luke," he clarified and saw the trader register the information and relax a little. Leia's words had been a little unfortunate.

"I don't know if he really needs help…" Mara hoped the usually astute Leia would not spot the rush of colour to her face. Luke had managed fine on his own – he'd tied her in knots, but he'd managed fine. She risked a glance in his direction and found that his eyes were still locked on her. Shakily she touched her tongue to her lips and the sexual tension between them could be grasped and wrung out. A memory of last night and Luke's strong arms holding her - just before he entered her waiting body flashed before her eyes and she saw that he'd seen it too.

Feeling the trembling in her limbs, Mara turned to Solo and muttered a pleasantry before almost running away to the opposite end of the room from where a frozen Luke still stood. She'd acknowledged Callista with only a single glance of her sharp green eyes.

"Luke…" Callista tugged at his sleeve impatiently.

"What!" He turned back to her, his eyes large in his pale face.

"What is there between you and Mara Jade?"

"I don't know," he whispered.

Callista frowned. He looked stunned as if he was seeing the other woman clearly for the first time ever. She remembered the stare outside the apartment block, the easy camaraderie in the exercise hall and now the long exchange of glances.

The tables were called for dinner and Luke let Callista lead him to the dining room, but all the time his mind was on the other side of the room with another woman – the most beautiful woman he had ever seen in his life and the one woman he'd ruined his relationship with. Han was right – he had to talk to Mara and apologise for his actions of last night and this morning. He had to try if she would let him. He hadn't expected her to be here but she was and he'd been granted another chance. Something in the Force told him he had to take it.

Callista had spent three weeks being the sole, if absent-minded focus of Luke Skywalker's attention, but since Mara Jade had arrived on Coruscant that focus had definitely shifted towards the red headed former Imperial.

'She's a Jedi,' Callista told herself. 'Luke's training her, that's all.' But her words seemed hollow. She guessed there was more between them than that.

"Luke… what's going on?"

"Mara and I had a fight; we're always having them, but I said and did some stupid things."

Callista knew it wasn't Jedi-like behaviour but she was glad they'd fought. There had been something in the steadfast blue gaze on Mara that had been missing when he had looked at her. "Is it worth continuing to train her?"

"She is very powerful in the Force – incredibly so and that power is growing daily. It wasn't her fault that she is who she is; the Emperor twisted her mind so she thought she was serving the good side. Mara deserves the honour of being a Jedi and I don't know anyone who does more."

"Palpatine created a lot of suffering, some of which we are all still paying for. You're right -Mara should train." Callista focused on the meal being placed in front of her, before lifting her head and saying sharply, "She's that strong in the Force?"

"Oh yes. She's learned a lot over the years from the Emperor, from me and the other Jedi that are rising. She was unwilling to progress further when she found out the extent she had been lied to and betrayed by the person she trusted most in the world. She needs to know how to handle that power." He picked up his glass of red wine and took a large swallow.

"Luke, as the Jedi Master should you…?" She frowned almost imperceptibly at his glass.

"Leave it Callie. I'm also a man," he bit out. "I won't get drunk and embarrass the order."

Callista knit her brow. "I didn't mean that," she said calmly and continued to eat her meal, while Luke pushed his fork through his and ate very little.

"What are your plans for the future?" A gentleman asked the question on Callista's left hand side.

She paused and glanced at Luke for guidance but he was studiously ignoring them as he finished destroying the chef's artful creation.

"I'm not sure…"

"You'll be staying with the Jedi Master?"

Callista opened her mouth to say that she would be, but Luke answered first.

"No, there is nothing I can teach Callista about the Jedi." He gave a small smile. "I keep telling her she should be teaching me. In fact," he turned to her, "I keep meaning to ask you to contact Tionne; there must be a lot of techniques and procedures you learned long ago that we could use." He smiled easily at the man. "She has been doing a lot of research recently and has built up quite a store of knowledge. I would love for her to be able to work with our librarian on Yavin IV."

"I gave you the data cards containing my research."

"You gave me eight years worth of information. Which probably means you gave me thousands of years of Jedi history. It's too much for me to wade through on my own."

"Let me help you. I can stay here, by your side…"

"Excuse me." Luke stood up and indicated Callista should do the same.

She rose to her feet and unwillingly followed him to the anteroom.

"I wasn't sure if this was the right time to discuss this but I have been thinking a lot about you and all the research you have undertaken to recover your use of the Force. You could be a great help to the Jedi, Callista. You have eight years worth of data and personal knowledge you received. You could really aid someone like Tionne, who is trying to research Jedi history. So much of our heritage was lost and you are a link to the past. You were trained during the days of the Old Republic. You saw the rise of Palpatine and the downfall of my father. You must have been aware of the achievements and the errors of the order at that strange time in their history. I have made so many mistakes because I tried to build the order with little guidance. You can help me if you want to but you cannot achieve the Force through me."

"Luke…"

"No, Callista."

"You will change your mind."

"No," he sounded definite. "I will not." And he gave her an unsmiling nod, his eyes unreadable. "I'm not the perfect Jedi Master, Callie, and no amount of trying can turn me into him. Remember I can't try, I must do - so I 'do' as I can. Please don't make me into something I'm not and never could be. We are over." He took her large strong hand in his and squeezed it gently before letting go and left her standing there.

Callista's eyes filled with tears that she blinked away as she tried to recover her poise. She had some thinking to do. Luke had changed so much and she'd only just realised it. She had thought he'd be the same as he'd been when she'd left and in many ways he still was the old Luke but there was a difference now. "I was wrong and now it's too late," she whispered. "If I had the same choice now – what would my decision be?" She sighed, her grey eyes pensive, because she didn't know what her conclusion would be.

Leia, who had been discreetly monitoring her brother through the Force felt his unease leak through his shields. She still tended to worry about him and he was still keeping much of his emotions locked up tighter than he usually did. She'd seen Luke and Callista leave the table and go towards the anteroom. 'I'll give them five minutes and then I'll go and interrupt.' Four minutes later Luke returned to the dining table without his companion, his face set. Leia decided she needed to see if her brother's former companion was all right.

"Callista… Everything okay?" Leia asked as she walked out of the banqueting hall towards the taller woman.

"He's so different tonight."

"I take it we're talking about Luke here?"

"He's the Jedi Master… Up until tonight I could still see him just as… Luke and I tried to make him the Jedi Master. But a moment ago, without effort and without my help, he became the Jedi Master."

Leia wrinkled her forehead. "So?"

Callista walked to the entrance and stared down part of the grand Corridor. "There used to be trees here."

Leia blinked at the abrupt change of subject. "I know, the Ch'hala trees. They were beautiful, but they had to go. Information was getting out and we couldn't work out why.

"I remember when they were planted. I'd been visiting the Jedi Temple with my master and they had just finished building the Grand Corridor. I'd never seen anything like it."

Leia's ears perked up. "You remember them being planted? That must have been forty or fifty years ago."

"A lifetime ago, before I went into the Eye of Palpatine. Before you and Luke were born."

"So many things have happened. Enough for several lifetimes."

There was an uncomfortable pause; both women stood not knowing what to say.

"I thought I was doing the right thing, Leia. I couldn't stay with Luke and be less than he was."

"I told you, he didn't see it that way."

"I'm not so sure."

"He didn't. Luke doesn't think that way."

"Perhaps not, but he has this instinctive need to protect and I didn't want to be protected. At that time that was the last thing I needed. My confidence had gone and I wasn't the same person I'd been. I had lost an intrinsic part of myself and then was told I'd have to be protected. The Jedi were the protectors of peace and justice in the galaxy. All I could think about was that I was a Jedi. I should have been the one providing protection – not needing it." Her thin shoulders shrugged.

Leia sighed softly. "The trees had to go - they were beautiful but destructive. I wouldn't like the same thing to happen to you. You can touch the Force through the dark side. How long would it be before you were tempted to use that power, especially if Luke doesn't return your love? Would you compel him to love you? We cannot always choose who we love."

"I know."

Leia caught Callista's grey gaze with her own dark brown one and tried to impress the seriousness of the situation. Callista was playing with Luke's life again and Leia's main concern was her brother's happiness. "You have some decisions to make, Callista. Make them wisely. I'll find it very hard to forgive you a second time."

She turned to go and then stopped. Even without the Force Callista sensed she was about to verbally dart her.

"Callista – did it ever occur to you that this is not your time? We are not of your generation and it is not your place to be at Luke's side?" Leia's voice was soft but it pierced her soul with all the directness of a laser. "Think about it."

Callista felt very much alone as she watched Leia return to her husband's side and slip a casual arm through his. Still, the other woman's words had struck home. Leia was right. Callista should not have been in this timeline. A great weariness settled on her shoulders… she'd thought of herself and not her life and task as a Jedi Knight when she'd exchanged places with Cray. She'd used the Force for selfish means and it had deserted her. She still would never turn to the dark side – it was not in her nature although the temptation was always with her - but it gave her something to fight against. Could she help the new generation of Jedi – Luke's Jedi? It would mean she was still part of what she'd worked so hard for. Could she bear it?

The dancing had begun. Callista could hear the strains of an ancient melody her grandparents had known on Chad III. She was tired of this never ending quest and what she desired most in all the galaxy, apart from the love of the Jedi Master, was to go home, where the seas of her native planet sparkled in the sun, teeming with the life she'd once felt so keenly through the awesome power of the Force. Her hands fingered the handle of her lightsaber, which she'd worn ever since Luke had returned it to her, and traced the carvings of the tsaelkes she'd spent so much time and care upon.

Callista stood and watched the various couples and caught sight of Luke standing with his eyes again fixed firmly on the elegant figure of Mara Jade. She was studiously ignoring him as she danced with a politician from a system Callista was unfamiliar with. Luke hovered on the dance floor as if he wanted to go and dance with the slim redheaded woman who twirled skilfully to the up-tempo beat. 'Yes,' she thought, 'I have many things to reflect upon.' He hadn't once looked in her direction – not once, but remained intently focused on Mara.

Mara Jade felt his eyes on her as soon as the dancing began. She saw him hesitating on the edge of the dance floor, poised on the balls of his feet, as if ready to spring into action wielding his lightsaber. Luke wasn't known for his prowess on the dance floor, but Mara had seen him dance before and any one who could move like he did with a lightsaber in his hand was certainly capable of following simple steps. Good footwork mattered as much for fighting as it did for dancing.

Her earlier conversation with Han came back to her.

"You want me to…"

"Why not – would it be so hard? You're fond of the kid, ain't you?"

"Well… yes – but…"

"Get dressed up and knock them all dead. You got something that would do?"

"Of… of course," Mara stuttered. Han Solo never ceased to amaze her. He really took the ration bar.

"You can tell Luke your plans at the reception,"

"What plans?" Mara questioned worriedly.

"The plans to help him break away from Callista."

"He doesn't need my help to break away from Callista. He's a grown man…" Mara shuddered inwardly at exactly how much of a man Luke was.

Han gave a heavy sigh. "I saw him an hour ago and he was tearing apart his shuttle. He's not going anywhere in that for a while. It's not like him to be so affected by things. I wish he would let go a little more often, but when he does – I get worried. It's that unusual."

"Tearing it apart?"

"Wires, electronics, circuits… you name it - all over the place. I told him it wasn't a big enough excuse to avoid going tonight. I know he never feels comfortable at these things. Does he think I do?" Han shook his head. "Go on… just do it," he wheedled.

"Do what?" Mara snapped irritably. "I'm not sure what you're asking me to do."

"Dazzle the kid."

"Dazzle… Luke?" She swallowed uncomfortably.

"Yeah. Make Callista see she's not the only female in the Jedi Master's life. It doesn't have to be real. You can tell Luke all about it and nobody's hurt."

"Just Callista."

"She'll be hurt more if this continues. She has to be made to see the truth. Go cheer up the Jedi Master. He's always happy in your company."

"You think?"

"You've not been fighting again?"

"Me? Fight with…"

"That 'wampa-brained sand borer'." Han tried to keep the smug expression from appearing on his face. He knew he'd just scored a direct hit with that comment.

Mara was unsure if Han knew too much or if he'd just made a lucky guess. He was surprisingly astute under the casual air and lazy laid-back manner. Mara gave herself a mental rebuke. Han Solo had been kicking round the edges of the galaxy long before he'd even hooked up with the rebellion and he'd survived in a lawless and hostile environment. Luke's homily on never underestimating anyone came back to her. Han Solo was a sharp as the claws on a colo fish She found herself nodding dumbly and watching him leave her ship, his hands tucked in his pockets and a jaunty whistle on his lips.

After that it had been a rush to finish her cleaning and hurry back to her apartment staring blankly at the contents of her wardrobe wondering which dress might 'dazzle' the Jedi Master.

Mara went through the dance steps automatically; she'd learned this one as a child, but couldn't remember who had taught her. Then the music slowed and she turned and caught Luke's gaze once more. Something flared in his eyes and he tensed. Mara whispered something in the ear of her partner, her eyes never leaving the steady blue gaze and watched with fascination as Luke's eyes darkened a little, then she turned to him fully and held out her arms.

Luke couldn't believe it. Mara had whispered something into the ear of the man she was dancing with and a quick stab of feeling had settled in his gut. Then she'd turned and held out her arms to him. His feet started to move as if summoned by a powerful magnet, his eyes never leaving the security of hers.

Mara tried to act as if she was flirting with him, but as soon as she stared into his vivid gaze, she knew she couldn't do it. Her feelings for Luke were too real and last night was too recent. She just wanted him to hold her.

"Mara," he whispered, his expression sincere and full of something resembling hope. "I'm so sorry…"

"Ssh, farmboy," she returned and placed his hands in hers and they began to move to the music.

It felt so right for her to be in his arms like this, so right and so wonderful. Luke began to see that he had been blind in very many ways. They danced in silence just listening to the romantic sweep of the melody until Luke could no longer bear the guilt he'd assumed for his actions.

"About last night, Mara…"

She stiffened. "I don't want to hear it."

"Please," he entreated desperately. "I'm an idiot, worse than a lumbering nerf."

"It's okay."

"No it's not. I apologised for what happened between us. I'm not sorry that…" He flushed. "You know… It… happened. I'm not sorry at all. It was a special night – special and magical, perhaps because it was so unexpected and perhaps because I'd secretly been wanting it to happen for the longest time." His voice dropped to a low murmur. "It was especially wonderful because it was you. I'm only sorry because I didn't think you'd ever want to be like that… with me."

"Oh, Luke…" she replied, the pain that she'd felt, and was feeling still, uppermost in her mind. She curved closer into his arms and laid her bright head on his shoulder.

"I thought I had ruined our friendship and I couldn't bear that."

"Nor could I, nor could I."

"Have I?"

"What?"

"Have I ruined our friendship?"

"I hope not."

"You're not sure?"

"Luke…"

"Come on."

With a start Mara realised that the music had stopped and Luke was leading her towards the doors that led outside. She pulled a little against him, but he was grasping her arm tightly as he drew her towards the seclusion of the balcony.

"Luke…"

"We need to talk…"

She sighed. "Do we have to?"

"We have to clear this up."

"Luke…"

He smiled down at her. "You keep saying my name." His voice was a little awed.

"Well it is your name." Mara returned matter of factly.

"What happened to Skywalker?"

A faint smile crossed her lips. "You tell me, farmboy – what did happen to him?"

"I don't want my stupidity to distance me from you. I was wrong."

Mara sighed again and let herself be led away.

The balcony was deserted and the two Jedi wandered slowly to the carved railing and gazed at the lights of the city. Mara's mind transported her back to another balcony in another romantic setting, but she'd been alone there until Karrde had interrupted her troubled thoughts. Now she dreamily wandered hand in hand here with Luke, the faint strains of the orchestra's sweet sound a gentle reminder of the rest of the galaxy and all the problems that went with it.

Luke had always liked this part of the palace. It had been laid out like a garden with plants in pots and tubs, secluded lighting that gave it a mysterious air and there were benches for people to sit on. He gave the woman by his side a careful look. She didn't look mad at him any more; in fact she hadn't looked angry this morning. He hadn't given her the chance to say or do anything. He'd mumbled his stupid apology to her and rushed away leaving her alone in his bed. It was a wonder she hadn't carved him into bits with his father's lightsaber at the first opportunity. He deserved it. When they'd first met if he'd carried out a stunt like that she would have. Hell, she wouldn't have let him near enough to her in the first place so it wouldn't have mattered.

A faint breeze caught at the loose curls around Mara's face and she brushed them away with an impatient hand. Now that they were alone again they didn't know what to say to each other. The silence was companionable as they leaned on the balustrade and stared at each other.

"You look stunning," Luke whispered huskily. "I've always thought you beautiful, but I was wrong - you're more than that."

Mara took a shaky breath. How could he do this to her? She was the one that was supposed to be putting him off balance and it was working the other way around. His eyes darkened and he took a step nearer to her. It was a little much for Mara's composure. When he'd come into her arms on the dance floor, his warmth, nearness and presence in the force had curled around her with love and security. She'd felt it. Did he love her? Could he love her? For if he couldn't she would have to walk away. It was too late for her. She loved him heart and soul and no one else would do. Mara was incapable of treating him merely as a friend now. It had taken Callista's return to tell her that the happiness and irritation she felt whenever Skywalker was near, was something different from the usual. The comfort she felt in his company, the energy she gained and how flat and grey life seemed without him all added up to a lot more than mere liking.

She gazed into the hypnotic blue of his eyes and waited for him to speak. But he said nothing. 'What was he thinking?' she wondered.

Luke felt as if he was caught in a spell, not of his own making but of the Force and of Mara. It pulsed vibrantly around him reacting to the thoughts and feelings swirling between him and her. 'What thoughts did she have behind those clear green eyes?'

Mara stared at his eyes, then her gaze drifted to his well-shaped lips, swaying towards him as he grasped her slender arms firmly. 'Han said I should 'flirt' with him. I don't want to do that. Not when I breathe the same air.' But she couldn't help her nature any more than Luke could his and the pair of them closed together and their mouths touched. Gently at first, as soft as the first rainfall on Alderaan or the flutter of a moth's wing and then his lips found hers properly. It was sunshine and sweet healing rain. It was all blue lightning and meteors - it was as if a fire was lit deep in their hearts.

They stood together, barely touching, but the searing contact mouth to mouth set them both trembling. Almost at once they sprang apart gazing at each other on the dimly lit balcony, their breathing ragged and their faces shocked.

Mara took an uneven, gasping breath, her lips burning hot from the touch of his. One trembling finger traced them, as in disbelief and Luke's gaze narrowed in on the telltale movement.

"It's still there," muttered Luke in amazement and stepped forward again, this time pulling Mara very definitely back into his arms. "It wasn't circumstance and frustration… it's more… it's much more. How could I not have seen this?" He muttered as his lips closed on Mara's again. 'It's like fire…' he thought.