A/N: Just to start things off, i'm sorry things were not steamy as I promised in the last chapter. And also to add, Mara is not the Lightsiders spy, she is just keeping herself from getting the crap knocked out of her. Neither the Imperials or the Lightsiders are the " good guys" or the " bad guys". In each story I do in this series, it kind of switches back and forth, and then again is neutral. It all depends on the characters. Thanks for the wondrous reviews, they give me the tinglies!

Hey Dad look at me
Think back and talk to me
Did I grow up according
To plan?
Do you think I'm wasting
My time doing things I
Wanna do?
But it hurts when you
Disapprove all along

And now I try hard to make it
I just want to make you proud
I'm never gonna be good
Enough for you
I can't pretend that
I'm alright
And you can't change me

'Cuz we lost it all
Nothing lasts forever
I'm sorry
I can't be Perfect
Now it's just too late
And we can't go back
I'm sorry
I can't be Perfect

I try not to think
About the pain I feel inside
Did you know you used to be
My hero?
All the days
You spent with me
Now seem so far away
And it feels like you don't
Care anymore

And now I try hard to make it
I just want to make you proud
I'm never gonna be good
Enough for you
I can't stand another fight
And nothing' alright

'Cuz we lost it all
Nothing lasts forever
I'm sorry
I can't be Perfect
Now it's just too late
And we can't go back
I'm sorry
I can't be Perfect

Nothing's gonna change
The things that you said
Nothing's gonna make this
Right again
Please don't turn your back
I can't believe it's hard
Just to talk to you
But you don't understand

'Cuz we lost it all
Nothing lasts forever
I'm sorry
I can't be Perfect
Now it's just too late
And we can't go back
I'm sorry
I can't be Perfect

'Cuz we lost it all
Nothing lasts forever
I'm sorry
I can't be Perfect
Now it's just too late
And we can't go back
I'm sorry
I can't be Perfect

-Perfect

Simple Plan

Sweet Friday atlast! This is what Mara Jade thought as she walked home alone from school a week later. She had luckily ditched Darren and the other Imperials by telling them she had to practise for gymnastics at home, and also had a major project due: idiots. The day was beautiful and clear, the beginning of spring as winter faded off. She stopped at an abondoned park to sit on the swings for a moment, her thoughts drifting back to Naboo. When she was younger, she would always run off with the other children and race to the swingset. But her favorite was always an old wooden swing than hung from old ropes from the branches of the highest tree in the park. It hung over the park's lake, and if she would swing high enough, she could see many of the world's waterfalls, since the park was ontop of one of the mountains.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a warm hand setting on her shoulder. Mara jumped and turned, her face only a few inches away from his. His blue eyes held laughter at her shock, and she smacked him playfully.

" Hey, how did you find me here?" she asked Luke. He shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly and grasped her smaller hand in his own, pulling her to her feet.

" Come home with me. I feel so deprived of your attention lately." she laughed at his comment and let him pull her to his speeder.

000

As they stepped into his house, she just rambled on talking, not even realizing that the house was dark.

" Uh, I can't wait to take this god-offull make-up off. I hate dressing like this everyday." he led her more into the house, silent as she finally realized something was going on. Suddenly the lights came on and many of the Lightsiders jumped out from behind couches and chairs.

" Surprise!" they all screamed, laughing at the surprised look held on her face. She stumbled backwards, but luckily Luke caught her before she could fall.

" Oh... wow!" she said softly, her words muffled by her hands. And then she realized what day it was.

" Happy birthday Mara." Luke whispered in her ear, wrapping his arms around her waist.

" Sorry that there are no balloons or anything, but we plan to take you out for a night of fun instead." Leia said matter-of-factly. And before she knew it, the girls were pulling her up to Leia's room to prepare her for the night's rendevous.

000

She gaped at her reflection in the mirror an hour later, barely recognizing herself. Her curly red hair had been straightened, and now hung past her butt. All trace of Imperial makeup and clothes had been removed, and she now wore a light green peasant skirt with beads and fringe lining the bottom, and a white peasant top that hung off of her shoulders. She had on bright blue heals that she was actually able to balance in.

Her makeup was simple; no face powder or base, revealing a light spray of freckles across her nose, pink lip-gloss, and silver glitter for eyeshadow. They had taken out all of her earings and just put in a pair of silver hoops, making her outfit casual and cute.

Leia, Tionne, and Cilghal stepped down the stairs first, all grinning with their accomplishment. And then to the guys they spoke as though presenting an award.

" And best dressed for the night goes to the one, the only, Mara Jade." they parted to reveal the now sixteen year old. Whistles and catcalls rang throughout the room, causing a blush to rise to her cheeks. Luke held out a hand to her and pulled her to his side, wrapping his arm lightly around her waist. And that began their most interesting night.

000

" Won't someone see me with you guys though?" Mara asked in realization in Luke's speeder. Since it was her birthday, she sat shotgun while Luke drove, Leia and Han in the back seat. Lando tailed them with the rest of the party in his speeder.

" Well, we thought of that beforehand, but have come to the conclusion that where we are heading is definately not Imperial territory, and I highly doubt to see the trace of an Imperial, except you of course, anywhere around." Luke said, keeping his eyes on the driving lane as he spoke. Leia sat forward to answer more discreetly.

" In other words, the mall."

Mara's eyebrows rose into high arches in a skeptical expression. Leia noticed this and laughed.

" Have you seen the whole mall?" she asked her. Mara shook her head slowly, unsure of where the conversation was heading.

" No, only the game room."

" Well there are sixteen levels to the mall, and not all of it just clothes stores. It's like a freakin city put inside a tall building. It will be extremely fun, especially if you cut up and dress up in the stupidest stuff for fun if you do go in a clothing store." Leia sat back in the seat, letting Mara absorb her comment.

000

When they finally arrived at the mall, the whole group met up together before heading inside. The mall was definatley different at night compared to the day.

They laughed and cut up in a way Mara had never done before. She had always been so serious, whether she wanted to or not that she just missed out on the fun in life. Luke pulled her to the side and into a photo booth, hiding themselves behind the curtain.

" Is something wrong?" he asked her quietly, wrapping his arms tightly around her. She sighed in content and buried her face into his chest, truly comfortable.

" No, it's all so great. Thank you." she mumbled, her words muffled by his shirt. He stroked her head gently before pulling her out of the booth with him, staying just a few feet behind the others.

But it was when they were heading back outside into the parking lot that the trouble started.

000

She was laughing, his arm around her waist as they branched out onto the sidewalk.

" Mara." the word had an icy ring to it, and she knew immediately she was screwed. She turned, along with everyone else to see her father standing only a few feet away, not looking very happy.

" Daddy." she said softly, as though testing out the word to see if it were true. He snarled as he spoke to her, his teeth bared from anger.

" How dare you disgrace me you little ingrate! I thought I raised you properly; I put clothes on your back, food on the table, a roof over your head..., and you repay me by whoring around with Lightsiders."

Mara stepped away from Luke, her own anger boiling within its confinement of her body.

" If you are so disappointed with everything I do, then why don't you just send me back to the orphanage or wherever the hell you got me." she spat out, her cheeks flushed from anger.

" Don't tempt me." he answered her, his body shaking with rage. Her voice became quieter, sadder, as tears entered her eyes, though only Luke seemed to notice.

" I try so hard to make it, to make you proud, though it seems I'll never be good enough for you. You're never home half of the time, and you expect me to be something I'm not. We've lost it all, nothing lasts forever, and I know it's just too late for us. I'm sorry daddy, but I'm not your puppet to play with. You can't just make me into whatever you want me to be. I'm not perfect." her voice was shaking, her lip quivering to keep her tears in check.

Palpatine just grimaced at her before turning and storming away. Luke pulled her into his arms, though it was still not safe to cry. She didn't know where it would be, but was sure she would know.