Two months earlier

Coruscant, Jedi Temple

Mara Jade Skywalker was roused from a deep sleep by something or someone. She slowly sat up in bed, careful not to wake her husband. As she scanned the dimly lit room she was startled by what looked like a person squatting near her desk, but as he eyes focused in the low light she realized it was just her Jedi robe thrown haphazardly over a chair.

Usually Mara was the epitome of neatness, with her clothing property hung in her closest with an almost military precision. All the hangers had to be facing the same direction and her clothing evenly spaced apart. For most people that would be a sign of an obsessive compulsive disorder, but in Mara's case it was simply something drilled into her head through years of Imperial training.

Her clothing was almost never scattered about the room, but Luke had returned early from a ten day mission and their reunion quickly turned amorous. He had swiftly divested her of her robes and threw them aside where they apparently landed near her desk. She was sure she would find her undergarments and shoes littering the floor in the morning, along with Luke's attire.

She reached out with the Force, but felt nobody within the confines of the apartment except for her and Luke. It wasn't uncommon to be awakened for no apparent reason. The temple was located in the center of what was once Imperial City, and with millions of sentient beings in very close proximity there were always spikes of anger or fear from locals making a disturbance in the Force. She sometimes envied Mark Tantiss who stored the Temple ysalamiri in his apartment. At least he could sleep soundly within the Force void created by the creatures.

She slowly laid back down and turned to gaze at her sleeping husband. He was a handsome man, but she found him absolutely adorable when he slept. The life of the Jedi Grand Master was often tense and unforgiving, but when he was asleep his face took on the boyish quality that always made her knees quiver. He wore only a pair of sleeping pants leaving his chest bare and inviting. She had to actively resist the urge to reach out and touch his toned pectorals. They had been married for almost twenty-eight years, but the sight of him still excited her.

His chest rose and fell softly in a steady rhythm, but suddenly his breathing became more erratic and she could see telltale eye movement under his lids indicating he was dreaming. She could feel spikes of raw emotion coming from him through the Force. Whatever he was dreaming about was disturbing him. A soft moan escaped his lips followed by the words, "Stop him."

Mara reached out to wake him, but then hesitated. Luke had been having nightmares for weeks …visions he thought could be prophetic in nature. She pulled her hand back and decided to let him ride this dream out. After a minute or two Luke finally sat up in bed with a gasp. He took a few calming breaths as he ran his hand through his hair. He looked over to Mara and upon realizing she was awake he gave her a wane smile. "Did I wake you?"

She shook her head. "No I was up before your dream kicked in." She looked around the room once more. "I don't know what woke me." She shrugged. "It could be anything…somebody in the city being murdered and I am picking up the terror of their last moments."

Luke nodded with understanding. "It's not the most pleasant sensation, but that is part of being a Jedi."

"Unfortunately," Mara said as she raised herself up on an elbow. "Was it the same dream?"

Luke nodded. "I saw a cloaked figure. His face was concealed with the exception of yellow Sith eyes that glowed from under his cowl."

"Do you think it's a vision?"

Luke shrugged. "I don't know. In the dream I have a sense of dread," Luke said. "Like something bad is just off the horizon." He gave her a questioning look. "Have you had similar dreams recently?"

She shook her head.

"I should ask Mark. As my clone, we're on the same Force frequency. He may be having the same visions."

"If he's having nightmares I doubt they're visions," Mara remarked. "His apartment is a giant Force void when his ysalamiri are in there with him."

Luke let out a breath. "I forgot. I'll never understand his infatuation with those animals." He paused in thought and then looked over at Mara. "Do you think he uses them to keep out the memories?"

Mara knew what memories he was talking about. When Mark and Talon Karrde killed the Emperor Reborn on Byss, Palpatine's spirit momentarily took over Mark's body. He grabbed the ysalamiri he brought with him and Palpatine was forced away…but the damage was done. Some or all of the Emperor's memories were imprinted within Mark's brain.

"No," Mara said softly, "he told me the memories are always there. He just sleeps better at night with the ysalamiri around." She gave Luke a smirk. "Also, he said he can still pick up sensations in the Force from us when we are in a highly emotional state."

Luke blushed. "Then maybe it's better that he has his animals."

She gave him a predatory grin. "I agree, we don't want my pseudo-brother eavesdropping on our bedroom activities." She rolled over until she was pressed tightly against her husband and then leaned in and gave him a passionate kiss.

Luke pulled her on top of him as he ran his hands down her back until they rested on her bare bottom. "I missed you while I was gone." He reached up and intertwined his fingers in her hair and pulled her down for another ardent kiss. "We have some more catching up to do," he said with a grin as he moved to nibble down the side of her neck.

"I'm all for getting caught up with business," she laughed then leaned down for a long welcome home kiss.