The drugs from the Falcon were turned over to authorities, Anakin managed to pay off the debt to the crime boss and he also informed the senate (through Padmé) and the Jedi Temple about the Black Sun Crime Syndicate. As part of Han's retribution, he had to visit a drug rehabilitation clinic once a week to offer support. He had fought tooth and nail over it with Anakin, but when he glared at him and got into that posture which Han dubbed his 'Sith Lord stance', he knew that there would be no further arguing. Han met with Ryoo and they talked together about what the drugs did to her and how she almost lost everything. Ryoo reminded him of a kid sister that he never had. He felt obligated to defend her, but their friendship was strictly platonic, he had no interest in marrying into the Skywalker/Naberrie Family, no way in hell did he want to be related in anyway to Anakin Skywalker.

It took Han awhile to get used to the routine of the early morning schedule, at least he had the weekends off to relax. Anakin may have at times a ruthless taskmaster, but he worked just as hard if not harder than Han. He was demanding, exacting, and overbearing, but when Han received a compliment from him, he could have been knocked over by a feather. The compliments were rare but Han also knew that they were incredibly sincere.

Anakin was proud of Han, even if he was rebellious, wild, and seemingly without any regard for the rules. He tried not to be hard on the boy, but sometimes he would force his hand. (No pun intended.)

Mara Jade was learning to control her temper more but sometimes it would still rear its ugly head, mostly when Han was around. He seemed to always know how to get on her last nerve. There were many times he heard the fighting between them and wouldn't really interfere, unless he felt a great disturbance in his padawan. Then he would just appear and the fight would always seemingly end, leaving Han and Mara laughing. One day Mara had a deliciously evil conniving prank that appeared in her head, she would have to share it with Han.

"Solo?"

"Yea?"

"Come here, I have something to show you."

"What's that?"

Han Solo jumped from ship with the plasma torch shutting it down.

"Where's Master Skywalker?"

"He's out talking to some man about purchasing some more speeders, like I don't have enough work as it is."

"Take a look at these."

Mara opened up the contact case and Han gasped as he saw the fiery contacts.

"Those are wicked, where did you get them?"

"I bought them, there's a shop in the Theed market that sells them."

"What are you going to do?"

Mara whispered conspiratorially in Han's ear.

"You know you will get into so much trouble."

"I know I'm going to have Ryoo tape the entire thing, she's become quite the natural with a camera and video."

"When do we set him up?"

"Soon, very soon." Mara smiled as she rubbed her hands together.

"I hope you don't get grounded again." Han sighed.

"You let me worry about that."

Mara finished pulling her costume together, she also contacted Obi-Wan to tell the Jedi Masters.

"Anakin is going to skin you alive, Mara Jade." Obi-Wan laughed.

"Payback, Master Kenobi. Can you imagine this will be the ultimate prank! I even think Master Windu will be impressed."

"Probably. Just be careful, Mara. I pray he only uses his left hand."

"For what?"

Obi-Wan leaned forward into the holonet projector. "Because you will probably be turned over his knee, I don't believe he is going to find this humorous at all."

Mara laughed, "Oh, Master Kenobi you worry too much."

"We shall see."

Soon the word spread to the Jedi masters about the prank.

That evening at dinner, Mara, Ryoo, and Han were listening to Padmé describe how the Senate was working on a bill to help people with drug addictions while the crime over lords were brought to justice. Mara slipped a piece of paper over to Han, he read it and smiled. Ryoo asked her folks if she could spend Friday night over with Mara. After cleaning up, the three of them went downstairs to the entertainment room, to play Sabacc.

"Do you think he's going to fall for it? He's very smart." Han whispered.

"At first, he will. I'm going to change and then we will start. Ryoo, you got your camera set up?"

"You bet I do!"

"Good."

Anakin and Padmé were sitting on the couch, enjoying a glass of wine.

"It's good that Ryoo has been able to spend some time with Mara and Han."

"Yea, those two adore her."

"Han is particularly protective, but I don't think he's interested in her romantically."

"He better not be!" Anakin laughed.

After Mara finished dressing and putting in the contacts she looked absolutely evil. She had been practicing in hiding her presence from Anakin.

Han jumped ten feet when he saw Mara glaring at him.

"Shit, you are really scary, Mara."

"Let's get this show on the road, before I lose my nerve. Ryoo?"

"Ready."

Anakin felt absolutely enraged fury coming from Mara, it actually startled him.

"Anakin?"

"Stay here." He put his glass down. He grabbed his lightsaber and held it but did not ignite it.

Mara started yelling louder and louder as she felt Anakin approach, he was apprehensive, he never felt this much rage coming from her. When he approached the entertainment room, he saw Han backed up into a corner with a blue blade at his throat.

"Mara! No!" Anakin activated his lightsaber and deflected it back to her.

"Han get Padmé and Ryoo out of here! Now!" Mara ran outside and Ryoo recorded the lightsaber fight.

"This is not the way, let go of your hate! I can help you, please Mara."

"Okay." Mara deactivated her lightsaber and threw it at her master. The look on his face was priceless. She then removed her contacts and put them in her case.

"Mara, what the hell is going on?" Anakin asked disbelieving that a Sith would give up so quickly. Or was this a prank, albeit a sick, twisted, evil prank?

"Finally, payback for all those pranks you've paid on me, Master Kenobi, Master Windu and more than dozen others. You've been had, Master Skywalker."

Anakin glared at Mara Jade, who was laughing until she caught the glare.

"Uh, oh. Now come on Master it's a joke, okay? Take it easy. Even Master Kenobi approved it; he said that it would be about time that you got a dose of your own medicine."

"You will have time to decide whether it was worth it or not, my young apprentice." Mara Jade bolted as Anakin chased after her. She tripped and fell; he put her over his shoulders and carried her into the house.

"Ryoo, were you in on this too?"

"Yes Uncle Anakin."

"Good keep it recording; let this be testament to my future padawans and even my own dear sweet children of what can happen when they play Sith pranks on me." Mara screamed as she was turned over Anakin's knee.

"No, please it was just a joke, please."

"Yes, and we now see who will have the last laugh, Mara Jade."

After the spanking ended, Mara was lifted to her feet. She was sobbing. "You may now go to bed, Mara Jade." Anakin tersely ordered. She turned and ran.

"Shut off the camera, Ryoo. Come here."

"Yes Uncle Anakin." Ryoo replied. She slowly approached him, she was afraid.

"Just tell me one thing, Ryoo. Was this all Mara's idea?"

"Yes, it was. She didn't think that you would get so angry, though."

"Thank you Ryoo, you may go to bed. I'll see you in the morning."

Han was sitting upstairs with Padmé until he felt Anakin behind him.

"You didn't put up much of a fight, Solo."

"It was staged, sir."

"Good night Solo."

Padmé could tell Anakin was upset, but she also saw a slightly bemused smile.

"She got you, didn't she?"

"Yes and you know that revenge is a dish best served cold."

"She was crying when she ran to her room. What did you do?"

"I gave her a spanking; it is unlikely that she will pull this particular stunt again."

"I pray you didn't use your right hand."

"No, though can't say I wasn't tempted."

Author's Note:A small reminder, Anakin's right hand is the mechanical one with the black gauntlet glove over it.

Mara Jade awoke she went downstairs and found Anakin standing on the porch watching the sun rise, he seemed calm.

"Are you still angry?" Mara whispered.

"No. I don't hold grudges, Mara. It was a very clever, well thought-out prank, Mara. I'm actually impressed, but that doesn't mean I approve."

"You've never done anything like it?"

"No, that prank was borderline deadly and incredibly dangerous. As a fellow prankster it was one of the best that I've ever seen or experienced and I can enjoy it from that perspective. But as a Jedi Master, I cannot or will not tolerate such pranks again, ever."

"So how long am I going to be grounded for, Master?" Mara sighed realizing her fate.

"I haven't really decided yet."

Mara walked away and returned to her room. Ryoo was sitting on her bed.

"Morning, so what did he say?"

"He said that as fellow prankster it was one of the best he's ever seen or experienced, but as a Jedi Master he won't tolerate it again."

Ryoo watched as Mara lay on her side. "It still hurts doesn't it?"

"Yea a little; but that's part of the process. I know I certainly scared him."

"Do you feel guilty?"

"Yea, do you have the tape?"

"Hmm. You want to see?"

"Count on it, the expression on his face was just priceless."

"Oh, no you didn't! You taped him spanking me!"

"I had no choice, he made me."

"I know, is it possible to erase it."

"No, he'd kill me. He told me that if I did I get the same."

Anakin went upstairs and knocked on Mara's door.

"Conspiring again?"

"No."

"Ryoo, give me the tape."

"Why?"

"Well, Mara wanted all the Jedi Masters to see the prank she pulled on me."

"Yea, but I didn't know my punishment was being taped."

"Too bad, so sad, give it up Ryoo."

Ryoo reluctantly handed over the tape. Anakin slipped it in the manila envelope, sealing it. It already had a label on it.

"Please, Master, don't do this." Mara pleaded.

"Next time you do a prank you would be wise not to have it recorded."

"Just ground me again, okay?"

"Nope, just think it will be archived, Mara, of course only Jedi masters will have access to it. Be grateful that the padawans won't be able to see it, until they become Jedi Masters and by then it will probably be forgotten, maybe."

"Not only that when I become a Jedi Master I will have it erased from the archive."

"Good luck." Anakin laughed and put the package into the stack of mail.

A week later, Yoda received the package from Naboo. "This must be a recording of Mara's prank."

After the business of the Jedi meeting was concluded, Yoda pulled out the tape and all 12 council members watched.

"Look at Skywalker's face, damn. He's actually pleading with Mara. This is too damn funny." Mace Windu laughed.

At the end of the tape, most everyone was surprised that Anakin turned her over his knee. "Hmm, not surprised by this I am." Yoda replied.

"I didn't know that archaic form of punishment was still used." Master Gallia replied.

"Rarely, but sometimes it's necessary." Obi-Wan replied.

"Obi-Wan care to elaborate?"

"Anakin was a handful, just like Mara is. He's experienced it a few times in his youth, particularly when he put his life in unnecessary danger."

"Or pulled too many pranks on a certain Jedi Master." Mace responded.

"Poor Mara."

"At least he didn't use his right hand." Kit Fitso responded.

The entire Jedi council laughed at that and the meeting was adjourned.

"I think this particular prank will be remembered in the next several decades." Obi-Wan laughed.

"I think Master Skywalker had the last laugh though." Master Gallia replied.

The younglings were all wondering why the Jedi masters came out of the council chamber laughing and carrying on. Luke and Leia saw the tape as their masters decided it would be good for them to see it. They both laughed at their father's face until they saw Mara getting turned over his knee then they sat there horrified.

"Hey, Luke I don't think we should ever pretend to be Sith around father, what do you think?"

"Yea, no way; poor Mara, I hope she's okay." Luke winced

"She only got what she deserved." Leia haughtily replied.

"Yea but that doesn't mean it doesn't hurt."

"Luke, you are too sensitive." Leia replied.

"Leia, can you even imagine getting a spanking from our father? His hands are huge!"

"I'm always good; I never have to worry about it."

"Oh, please Leia, if you are always good then why you had to scrub the floors in the council chamber?"

"Hush. At least I didn't have to wash dishes for pulling that prank on Master Windu."

"I never said that I was always good, Leia." Luke retorted.

"No, you are your father's son. I take after mom, she's more responsible."

"I'm proud to be Anakin Skywalker's son!" Luke emphatically yelled.

"You'd be proud even if he were a Sith Lord; and our deadly enemy!"

Obi-Wan and Adi were in the kitchen when they heard yelling and soon found things flying around the room as the twins sat on the floor arguing back and forth.

"Padawans Skywalker!" Obi-Wan and Adi yelled simultaneously.

Luke and Leia immediately stopped and all the objects fell nearby fortunately nothing was broken.

"What's this all about?" Obi-Wan asked.

"Leia was saying bad things about our father." Luke cried.

"Leia?"

"All I said was that Mara Jade got what she deserved and that Luke took after dad, where I take after mom because she's more responsible."

"She also said that I would be proud of him even if dad was a Sith Lord."

"Oh, brother." Obi-Wan sighed.

"Leia your mother in her youth was just as reckless as Anakin. She was not shy to speak her mind."

"But Master Gallia, she was more responsible than father."

"Come Padawan Leia, let's go back to our chambers and I will share some more information. You need to apologize to Luke."

Leia looked over at her brother and even though she didn't feel she did anything wrong, she could feel his pain. "I'm sorry, Luke." Leia hugged him.

"Me, too." Luke embraced his sister.

"Luke and Leia, whether you two want to believe this our not; both of you of your parents' personalities in spades." Obi-Wan affirmed.