I almost wish this burning would just… disappear.

But it won't.

Luke Skywalker. Just seeing him could literally make her day. His bright blue eyes are always alive with some type of passion. His quiet stance betrays him ever so often. She knew know that deep down inside, past all that Jedi Master nonsense, that there is a passionate, creative man just waiting to open up to the right person.

Could she be that person?

Sometimes, late at night (hell, anytime), she begins to believe that she is that right person for him. That she, Mara Jade, the woman who swore to kill him, could possibly be the person for him.

And then she shakes her head from such foolish thoughts.

I shouldn't want this. I can't want this.

But I want it. I need it so bad.

I must let no one know of these… feelings. Especially Skywalker.

If he found out… then everything she ever lived for would be destroyed. A life of guarded solitude is what she has built up. And she was not about to just let everything she has worked for fall apart for one person.

Not even Skywalker.

As she walked into the already crowded room, she nearly gasped.

He was here. In the same room as her.

What in space is he doing here! This isn't a Jedi Order meeting…

Unfortunately, Mara Jade was stuck at this meeting as representative for Karrde and his smuggling operations. Nowadays, Karrde was indeed one of the top dogs that the New Republic paid quite handsomely for the information he gave them.

I hate it when Karrde does this to me.

She felt his eyes upon her tall, lithe body as she walked into the large room, and she tensed at the sensation of having his eyes staring at her.

Oh no! Why the force did I wear this new outfit – the one with the revealing top and low cut tight bottoms!

I can't let him catch me alone. I just can't. My defenses will break for sure if I let that happen. I can't.

Yes, she was mean to only him for that one, sole purpose; she loved him.

I… love him!

She smiled suddenly, realizing the most obvious of all conclusions.

I love him. I've been loving him all this time. All this moodiness, all this confusion. It's finally making sense!

How could I be in love with the crazy farmboy!

No matter. I am in love with him. And that's that.

But he must never know it.

Or surely I will fall.

She frowned, deep in her own personal thoughts, away from the mass confusion and arguing of the many senators and officials at the meeting.

No. Her thoughts were on a certain farmboy/jedi master/man.

Some random senator was tapping her shoulder politely.

"Please. As a representative to Karrde, we need you to stay focused on the task at hand, alright?" he patiently chided her.

She simply nodded.

The fool that I am.

To love.

What do you think? I was thinking of writing some more, expanding a bit (as a fellow reviewer suggested), but am not qutie sure. Tell me what you all think!

FIN