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Jedi Praxeum, Yavin IV. 12 years after the Battle of Yavin.

She'd just stopped by to deliver a message. What Mara couldn't figure out – and what was beginning to annoy her greatly – was why everyone was looking at her so strangely. True enough, her own training was incomplete, but that was no reason for the Jedi and their trainees to treat her like some Force-pariah. She was not the one who had lost the ability to touch the Force, after all.

Which was one of the reasons she had regretted letting Skywalker talk her into staying longer at his sith-forsaken academy. Although it had given her a small amount of satisfaction seeing Callista eating alone, detached from the other students. Mara had met Callista – briefly – when she came to the rescue on the Eye of Palpatine, but Mara had spent much of the trip back to Coruscant avoiding her – and Luke, for that matter.

Mara didn't know what had possessed her to sit beside the woman. She certainly didn't have any real desire to speak with her. Although she had come to see Skywalker as an…ally, she supposed, that feeling did not extend to whomever he chose to bed. It wasn't as if she had any particular interest in Skywalker's personal life, anyway.

Maybe it was simply that she preferred to suffer a few minutes with Callista than in the middle of a crowd of Skywalker's starry-eyed acolytes. The lesser of two evils, she surmised. But there had been that small, niggling uncertainty around Callista's presence. Mara hated not knowing where she stood. It was unnecessary, perhaps, but she needed Callista to know her – even if only to know that she meant nothing to her.

So, you're Skywalker's new lady?

The delivery had been perfect – a balanced mix of scorn and apathy. As if Callista was simply the latest in a long line of Luke's lovers. Of course, Mara knew that not to be the truth, and chances were Callista did too. But the words had accomplished their purpose. Mara had her place, and now Callista knew it. That was until…

I've also heard hints you may have been interested in Luke yourself at one time.

It hadn't just been the stew that had caused the bitter, ugly feeling in Mara's mouth. It hurt even worse, now. To have Callista think that she was…interested…in Skywalker…it was the most ridiculous thing she'd ever heard. Anger burned within Mara as she stalked resolutely toward her ship. The nerve that woman had, insinuating there may have been more between her and Luke than…well, mild distaste and resigned acceptance. He saw her as no more than a potential student. She saw him as… Well, the truth was, Mara wasn't exactly sure how she saw him anymore. Perhaps that was what made Callista's words so much harder to shake off.

Skywalker was…Skywalker. The insufferable, self-righteous Farmboy turned Jedi Master himself. She certainly didn't count him among her friends. His ill-timed lectures on the Force and off-centre sense of humour irritated her more than anything else. But…he had helped her overcome the Emperor's zealous control over her mind. He'd shown her kindness, acceptance when she's done nothing to deserve it. He had always been there when she'd needed him, even if it was just someone to…be with. Someone who didn't see her as the former-Emperor's Hand, or the successful trader. Skywalker always seemed to look past that. The feeling was comforting. And she couldn't deny it, he'd taught her a great deal about the Force.

But then he said something, did something, that made her hate him all over again.

"Mara!"

She heard the call from the other side of the hanger, clear and crisp across the distance. Mara squared her shoulders and kept walking, a bit more briskly. But it only took a few seconds for him to cross the space and snag her elbow, causing her to stop. Mara snuck a look at him, but did not turn around. He must have run to reach her, but, insufferably, she showed no signs of it. No sweat on his brow, no irregular breathing to indicate he'd just sprinted across the jungle.

Mara cleared her throat. "Skywalker".

Probably realising she wasn't about to face him head on, Luke twisted on his feet until he was standing in front of her. There was a small, accommodating smile on his face. "You promised me a few hours, Jade", he said, with a hint of a reprimand in his tone.

"Once again, Skywalker, your talent for mishearing the truth becomes apparent". She looked at his confused, narrowing eyes and sighed dramatically. "I said I would grab a quick meal and then get out of here. I've done that".

"Yes, well…" Luke folded his arms defiantly. "I had hoped that meal would be undertaken in my presence".

"Ah, but you didn't stipulate that in your demands". Mara felt the beginnings of a smile work their way onto her face.

Luke grinned in return. "I'll make sure to ask Leia to teach me some proper negotiation skills, then".

"That might help". Mara felt her resolve to leave fade away, her smile broadening at the mischievous look on his face. "I'll be expecting a better opponent next time".

"So there will be a next time?" Luke leaned in slightly towards her, a glint of hope in his eye. "You know it means a lot to me when you come here. I realise…that it's not your favourite place to be".

"Well, I told you Skywalker, there are times I do look forward to seeing you". Mara mirrored his action, leaning in close to him. "Don't do anything to dissuade my opinion and…in all probability, there may be a next time".

Luke's smile softened. "Good". His voice was almost a whisper. They were standing so close that Mara could feel his gentle breathe as he spoke, could feel the warmth radiate off his body. With anyone else, she may have pulled away, kept herself distant. But with Skywalker it almost felt right.

They stood that way for several moments, until Mara noticed the almost imperceptible darkening of his eyes. He blinked, as if waking from a dream, and coughed uncomfortably. Obviously he hadn't realised how close their bodies had been to one another, and he stepped back quickly, almost tripping in his haste to distance himself. "I mean…uh…good". He stumbled over the words, eyes darting everywhere except her face. "It's good to see you continuing your training. And it gives you a chance to get to know Callista".

Mara felt the contented smile slip from her face. Carefully, she replaced it with impassiveness. Callista. The gravity of the situation she found herself in suddenly hit her. The hanger was empty, but if anyone had seen her and Skywalker, standing so close to one another… especially that weasel Kyp Durron, they would have delighted in running off to tell Callista about it. Probably adding in a few sordid details.

No one else would understand. What had passed between them in those few moments had nothing to do with attraction, or interest. For Sith's sake, Skywalker was the last person in the galaxy she would be interested in. It had been about comfort, acceptance. A silent understanding, for Mara, at least. And perhaps an unspoken promise of friendship, something more than the way they had been dancing around each other for the past few years.

But Luke had jumped away from her…as if they had been doing something wrong. Something unfaithful. That was what turned Mara's melancholy to anger. She glared at him. A chance to know Callista? She knew enough.

"What have you been telling her?" Mara demanded.

"What?" Luke seemed to have recovered from his shock and glared back at her, his hackles raised by her sharp tone.

"Callista. What did you say to her about me?" Mara folded her arms protectively across her chest. "About you and me?"

Luke closed his eyes briefly, and Mara felt him probing at her through the Force. She brutally shoved him away. "Mara, I don't know what you're talking about". He opened his eyes, and she saw genuine confusion in them.

"She seems to be under the impression that I am…interested in you" she spit out the words ruthlessly.

"Interested?" Luke furrowed his brow. "How, as a Jedi? She knows that you have no desire to kill me anymore".

Don't be so sure about that, she mused. At any other time, she might find his naiveté amusing, but dark emotions burned within her. "Interested in the way you are interested in her, Skywalker".

"Oh". Comprehension dawned on Luke's face, followed by panic, and finally, disbelief. "That's ridiculous, Mara".

"I know that. Only a fool would be interested in you, Skywalker". She ignored the wince her comment brought to his already tense face. "What I want to know is how she came to that conclusion".

Luke's hand came up to scratch his neck in contemplation. He was calm, despite her harsh words and angered disposition. "It couldn't have been anything I said to her, Mara. I've only told her that you are my friend, about your potential as a Jedi".

"And about the Emperor? I'm sure she was delighted to hear about that". Mara's tone broke slightly

"No!" Luke looked horrified. "What you've told me in confidence, Mara, about your past life…I would never betray you like that". His eyes pleading with her.

"Then, how…"

"Come on, Mara" he took a tentative step towards her. "You know those hologossipers. They've been rumours about us all over the press for years".

Mara felt the first wave of calm permeate her. What he was saying made sense. The holoreporters had started writing about them after Wayland, including her less than savory past. Whenever there was a lack of excitement in the galaxy, they seemed to recycle the story, complete with new (often doctored) images of them together. She'd learnt to ignore it.

"Or maybe it was Han" Luke continued, stepping ever closer to her. "You know how he likes to stir people up".

Mara nodded, once, signalling her acceptance. Her anger drained away as quickly as it had appeared, though some of the bitter resentment remained, sequestered in that hidden place of her heart. "I don't care what people think of me, Skywalker" she told him, her tone noticeably softer. "I just…"

Luke smiled softly at her, and brought his hand to rest lightly on her shoulder. "I know, Mara". He stared intently into her eyes. "I know".

But their peace was short-lived, as Luke's gaze flittered to the mouth of the hanger, and his smile broadened. Mara turned to see the quickly approaching form of Callista, and she shirked away from Luke's gentle touch. She glanced towards her ship, but Skywalker's body effectively cut off her escape route. She would have to face the woman again.

Callista reached them quickly, and it pleased Mara to note that she was slightly out of breath. Without so much as a glance at her, Callista thrust herself into Luke's arms, a coquettish smile on her face. "The students were wondering where the Master was" she said, her voice falsely playful.

"I'm sure he's around somewhere" Luke smiled, bringing an arm around her. It was enough to make Mara feel ill. She began to move, hoping to slip by them unnoticed, but Callista's sharp eyes halted her.

"Leaving so soon, Mara Jade?" she asked, moving closer to Luke's side. Staking her claim, Mara deduced.

"I have more important places to be" Mara said stiffly.

A twisted smile crossed Callista's face. "Like in the company of Lando Calrissian?" she asked, an undercurrent of a sneer to her voice.

"Callista" Luke warned softly. "Mara's private life is her own". But Mara noticed him flinch at the mention of Lando's name. She was intrigued by the obvious disproval of the rumours about her and Calrissian. Mara wondered why he hadn't asked her about them.

Well, Mara wasn't going to do anything to dissuade his opinion, although she'd told Callista the truth. "Certainly more entertaining company than the lot you have here" she shot back, giving Luke the benefit of a long, distasteful look.

"I suppose it would be hard for someone like you to understand" Callista said with mock sympathy.

"Someone like me?" Mara raised an amused eyebrow.

"Your Imperial ties are hardly a secret in the New Republic" Callista added. "I suppose a place like this, so strong with the Force you seem to have abandoned, would bother you".

"Callista!" Luke admonished her again, before Mara could respond. He turned towards her, silently pleading with Mara not to snap back at his lover, to remind her of her own painful loss in the Force.

Mara tried to make herself believe that she simply didn't care. She forced a smirk onto her face. "Well, I may have been wrong about you being entertaining, Callista". She nodded to Luke. "Skywalker. I'm afraid that the next time we were talking about may be later rather than sooner". With that, she turned and stalked resolutely towards her ship.

No, she wouldn't be coming to Yavin anytime soon, not while Callista was still around. She never wanted to be on the same planet as that woman again.

Luke watched sadly as the small ship disappeared into the atmosphere. Mara Jade's visits always seemed too brief. He lamented her reluctance to train fully as a Jedi with him, but a far more acute pain was brought by the loss of her presence itself. Once he was able to get past her durasteel mask, the core of Mara Jade was brilliance itself, pulsating with life, light and the Force. He just wished she would open herself up more to him, but occasions where she allowed her mask to slip were few and far between. But Luke promised himself that, eventually, he would make it past all of her barriers.

Callista wiggled slightly in his arms, seemingly bored with his silent contemplation. "I don't understand why you spend so much energy on her, Luke" she said finally, turning her cloudy grey eyes towards him.

Luke sighed. It was difficult for the outsider to understand his relationship with Mara. There was trust, loyalty and camaraderie. Yes, even friendship, but it as tempered with resistance, antagonism and perhaps even a little fear. Luke knew that she feared the power her could wield if he chose to, what he could become. Maybe that was what caused her to pull away from him so violently, to reject to connection they could have.

Mara Jade was not an easy woman to understand, or care for. Callista, on the other hand, made it very easy. She allowed his affection and love, returning it openly. He pulled her close, and kissed her cropped hair. "It's hard to explain, Callista. Mara and I have been through a lot together" He turned his gaze back towards the sky.

"And we haven't?" Callista's tone was indignant.

Running his free hand through his hair, Luke sighed again. "It's just different with Mara".

"Because she served the Emperor?"

Luke whipped his gaze down towards his lover.

"People talk around this Academy, Luke" she answered his unspoken question. "I know all about her".

"Then you understand why its so difficult for her" Luke hoped that she would begin to see things his way, accept Mara the way he had.

"It should be difficult for her, Luke" Callista turned in his arm and brought both of her hands to cup his face. "You're good. You have the purest spirit I've ever known, full of kindness and compassion. It seems such a waste to spend it on her".

Reluctantly, Luke pulled back from Callista's firm hold. "I don't see any kind of compassion as a waste" he said firmly.

"She killed people, Luke" Callista insisted.

"So have I" Luke regarded her, his eyes softening. "Many more than I am comfortable with".

"That was different, Luke. You were on the right side" Callista took a step towards him, stretching her arms out again.

"And who decides what's right, Callista? The Jedi, the Sith?" He eyes her coolly. "Mara has been a friend to me for a long time. She's a good person. I know if you'd look past your prejudices, you'd see that". Luke gently stepped towards her, surprised to see sudden tears in her eyes. What was it exactly that had caused this friction between the two women? Mara had reacted to Callista just as violently.

"I'm sorry Luke" Callista finally spoke, turning a teary gaze towards him. "I forget how different you are from other people". She smiled softly at him. "I love you for that". Her hands wandered up his chest, coming to rest on his shoulders. "The important thing is to focus on me finding the Force again" she continued. "Nothing else matters".

Gently kissing her forehead, Luke pulled her into a loose embrace. She clung to him tightly, burrowing her head into the soft cloth of his cloak. Luke brought his arms to rest lightly on her back, suddenly troubled. Quietly holding her, Luke pondered the ramifications of this change between them, their altered sense of peace.

He loved Callista, surely. Then why did he feel such uneasiness in his heart?