Mara rang the door indicator for the Solo residence. She was about to leave Coruscant on a run for Karrde when she received a cryptic call from Han Solo asking her to meet him at his apartment. Han said he couldn't tell her what crisis had occurred over an unsecure comlink…which was probably wise. She was pretty sure this was about Luke and the holopress would have a field day over Skywalker's Man-Droid love situation

Han opened the door and quickly ushered Mara into the apartment. "Thanks for coming."

Mara was surprise to hear the nervous tone in Han's voice. She'd heard him angry, cocky, jovial…but rarely anxious. "What is it this time Solo? Do you want me to install some…different type of attachment to Artoo this time?"

"Don't joke Mara, this is getting serious."

The stress in Han's voice stopped any further jibes she was going to offer. "What happened now?"

Han rubbed the muscles in the back of his neck. "Things are getting out of hand with Luke and Artoo…I mean Callista." He looked around nervously as if he expected a holo reporter to jump out from behind the curtains at any moment. "I got a call from Wedge this morning. He said Luke was giving Artoo an oil bath over in the Rogue hanger."

Mara shrugged her shoulders. "So?"

"He was in the bath with Artoo!"

Mara broke out laughing. "What?"

Han shook his head in frustration. "I talked to Luke later and he said he did it as a joke." Han rubbed a hand over his face and sighed. When he looked up at Mara she could see the stress etched in his face and the dark circles under his eyes.

"This is more serious than we thought, isn't it?"

Han walked over to the bar motioning Mara to follow him. He poured himself a drink and then held up the bottle. "Do you want a shot."

Mara shook her head. "It's a little too early for me."

Han shrugged and then downed a shot and refilled his glass. "Mara, Luke is the leader of the New Jedi Order and a very high profile representative of the New Republic. I would do anything for Luke, but I can't sit by while he destroys his life. I know it's not fair that the holonet will mercilessly malign his image, but it will happen. Reporters love heroes, but they love publicly destroying them even more."

"What can I do?"

Han gazed at her steadily for a moment. "Mara, Luke needs to realize what he's losing out on if he continues his relationship with Callista."

"And that is?" Mara asked.

"Human physical contact." Han said quietly.

Mara's eyes narrowed. "Solo, I hope you are not asking me to do, what I think you're asking."

"I'm talking about training. Ask him to help you with lightsaber training. He will never turn you down."

Mara shook her head. "I really don't think sparring with me with lightsabers will tear him from his astromech soulmate."

"True, true," Han said. "But maybe you can later on do some hand-to-hand training."

Mara scoffed and turned to leave but stopped at Han's next words. "I'll pay you. Leia and I are desperate. We have 50,000 credits in the bank. It can be yours. Just spar with him. Do anything that will remind him what it's like to have a real woman in his arms."

Mara gave Han a scornful look. "I don't care how you explain what you want…it sounds to me like you're offering credits in exchange for sex."

"HAN SOLO!"

Mara and Han startled as they turned to see Leia walk into the room. Mara cringed at what Leia must think. She expected Han to start babbling explanations to try to pacify his fuming wife, but he looked more irritated at her disruption than anything else.

"Leia I am talking to Mara about Luke!"

The fury in Leia's face melted away and she swiftly moved to Mara. "Gods Mara, can you help us? Maybe not the way my husband is asking." She turned and gave Han an icy glare. "How dare you make such an indecent proposal…even if it was for Luke's sake."

Han threw up his hands. "I didn't, she interpreted it that way. I just want her to touch him in some innocent manner…and let him know that the female form is not easily replaced by cold steel."

Leia nodded in approval. "Mara, even if you just bump into him once in the lift, that would help."

"Or bumped into him 50 times in the lift," Han said with a smirk.

Mara's scowl wiped the smirk off his face. "I'm kidding," he explained.

Mara shook her head. "No, I'm not going to interfere in Luke's life. Not this way."

The door indicator chimed and all three looked towards the door. Mara could immediately feel Luke's shining Force presence standing outside.

"I should go." Mara said quickly and moved toward the exit.

Leia followed her. "Please Mara."

The trader shook her head. "I can't help you."

Leia moved in front of Mara and answered the door. Luke stood outside smiling brightly with Artoo standing next to him.

"Luke…Ar…Callista. It's so nice to see you again. Mara was just over for a visit." Leia motioned for Luke and the droid to enter.

Luke's smile grew wider upon seeing his friend. "Mara, its always good to see you. Callista and I just finished taking a walk in the park."

Mara noticed the droid had sidled closer to Luke and was actually scooting back and forth in a rubbing motion against his leg. At the same time Luke was moving his hand over the droid's dome in an almost sensual manner.

Mara shuddered. Before she could stop herself the words tumbled out of her mouth. "Luke would you like to spar with me tomorrow? I have a couple days off and I would be interested in some Jedi training."

Luke's hand stilled. "Really?" He looked elated and Mara couldn't help but give a small smile. Luke was his happiest when he was teaching Jedi.

"Yeah, is 9AM in the Palace gym okay?" She asked.

"Yes, that's perfect! I'll see you then."

Mara couldn't help but notice that the optical sensor on Artoo turned back and forth between Mara and Luke... in what Mara could only interpret as a look of suspicion.

"I have to be going," As Mara turned to the Solos to say her goodbyes she could see the relief in their eyes. Mara backed out the door and moved down the hall as fast as she could walk. She wanted to be as far away from the droid-snatcher as humanly possible.