Hi everybody. My name is Augie and I know you guys don't hear from me much.
This is actually my first post, and I figured what better way to post was to
post with a fic. :) This is my first attempt at a fic so I must warn you...
I am not as talented as you guys, every writer on this list writes
beautifully and I love all the stories you guys write...can't get enough of
them. You guys actually inspired me to actually write one of my own so here
it goes, hope you guys like it. This is Chapter One and its kinda short, my
plan is to have this as a short story but we'll see how it goes.

Title: First Date
by Augie

Rating: The story is NC-17 (this chapter is pg)

Disclaimer: None of these characters belong to me. They belong to Lucas and
Zahn. I am not making any money out of this.

Setting: A year and a half after the "Last Command"

Summary: Luke asks Mara out on a date.

Chapter One

"Are you sure about this Han?" Luke asks his friend as they walk into the
Red Rancor.

"Relax kid, I go here all the time." Answers Han as the double doors to the
bar swung open to reveal the contents of one of the most infamous bars in
Coruscant.

Luke gave Han a sideways glance and leaned towards his friend to voice his
concern. "That is exactly why I'm worried." As expected, the dimly lit
place was surrounded with Pilots, Smugglers, and all sorts of shady looking
characters this side of Mos Eisley.

"Ha ha! Very funny pal. I wonder if Lando is here already?"

As they explored the bar, they spotted Lando in the corner table waving
enthusiasticly for them to join him.

"Finally, I was wondering when you guys would show up. Took you long
enough!" Lando exclaimed as he took another swig of his Corellian Ale.

"Sorry Lando. I had to convince 'Mr. Force' over here to live a little and
have fun for a change."

Luke just shakes his head. "What do you expect Han, I just landed on planet
and you come out nowhere and tell me were going to the Red Rancor."

When Luke and Han finally got seated on the opposite side of Lando, the
waitress came over and handed both of them two large mugs of Corellian Ale.

Before Luke could voice his protest, Han said, "Its automatic Luke, all they
serve here is Corellian Ale and the hard stuff, I won't even want to go into
detail on some of the stuff they got here. And besides you can't drink hot
chocolate all the time, not when your around your good old buddies like me
and Lando.

As the three friends shared stories and finished their third round of drinks
that evening, Han Solo dropped the news on Luke Skywalker equivalent of a
thermo detonator.

"You want to repeat that last bit again Han?" Luke said as he looked at his
best friend sitting beside him.

"I said..." Han paused and turning towards his friend "I saw Mara Jade with
some guy earlier tonight. They were going into one of Coruscants high-class
restaurants...'The Jewel' I think its called."

Lando gave out a long whistle. "That is definitely the place to go if your
trying to impress a lady, its also a place that would do considerable damage
to your pockets as well."

"How do you know it was her?" Luke asked as he guzzled more than half of his
remaining ale.

"Do you know who else who has hair like that? And besides, I got a good look
at her when the driver of my airtaxi I was riding in had to make a quick
landing to adjust something on his repulsor jets. That's when I saw them
going into the place."

As soon as Han finished his story, Luke leaned back on his chair. 'Oh no...
I'm too late! That's what I get for being such a mynock.' He thought to
himself, and displaying a dejected looking face for his friends to see.
Calling the waitress over, he ordered another mug of ale.

"Spill it kid. I think me and Lando can already sense whats on your mind, we
might not be force sensitive but we still got our smuggler's hunches." Han
said as he looked over at Lando who was now leaning forward on the table
waiting for Luke's to speak up.

" You have a thing for Mara don't you. I see the way you look at her when
you think nobody is looking." Han said, trying to make it easier for his
jedi friend.

After a long pause Luke decided it was best to just tell his friends what was
in his heart. "A thing? I'm in love with that girl Han... ever since I
first laid eyes on her on Karde's outpost on Myrkr. I fell in love with her,
blaster pointed at me and all."

"Whoa! Is this the ale talking or is this all you Luke?" Lando said with a
smile as he and Han witnessed for the first time Luke uncharacteristicly open
up with his feelings about a woman to them.

Covering his eyes with one hand, Luke decided to continue. "It's all me...but
I have to admit, the ale clouded my brain enough for me to even talk about
this to you guys."

"Does Mara know about this?" Han asked, not allowing his friend to get away
from their current subject.

"No...I never really had the guts to tell her, and I shield my thoughts and
feelings pretty well. But I came to a decision about a couple of weeks ago
that whenever I get the chance, I would tell her. That's one of the reasons
I'm even here on Coruscant. I knew she was here on business with the
smugglers alliance, I figured this to be the right time to court her...but I
guess I'm too late." Luke said as he ran his fingers through his hair using
both hands.

Han patted Luke on the back and tried to cheer him up. "Hey kid, I only said
I saw her with somebody...I didn't say she was getting married, and besides
just because they were out together that doesn't necessarily mean that they
are together. It could have been business for Karde or even something for
the smugglers alliance who knows."

"Han is right Luke, but that doesn't mean you should't do anything about it.
She is a beautiful woman my friend, a real stunner." Lando added. "Even I
think so, I had my eye on her for some time now too, but since were old
buddies and all...I'll leave her to you."

Luke just raised an eye brow at Lando, "Thanks Lando...I think? But
seriously, you guys think I have a chance with her?"

With Luke's last statement both Lando and Han just laughed in unison. After
their laughing fit subsided Lando was quick to anwer his question. "Surely
Luke you are not that insecure are you?"

Han suddenly interupted Lando. "Luke, you are the hero of the Rebellion, the
one who blew up the first Death Star, former leader of Rouge Squadron, the
one who saved us from the Emperor. You my friend are number one on
Coruscant's list of most eligible bachelors. No, let me rephrase that, you
are the galaxy's most eligible bachelor. You are the most famous man in the
galaxy for Gods sake."

Lando then took his turn to pump Luke up. "You are the real deal old buddy.
You are THE Luke Skywalker."

Before Lando could continue with his praises, Luke raised both his arms up.
"Do I have to remind you guys that those are the same reasons that she wanted
to kill me in first place."

After putting his mug down, Han turned to Luke. "Yes, but the point is Luke
is that she didn't. She has mellowed down alot since we first met her well
over a year ago, and I think you are the cause of that. You became friends,
good friends. You guys certainly spend alot of time together whenever you
guys have time. I'm sure she has some feelings for you too."

"How can you be so sure Han?" Luke asked.

Han was quick with his answer. "Because Luke behind all her toughness and
that assassin's glare, is a woman, plain and simple."

"Yeah Luke, lets face it your a chick magnet. Even with the women I date,
all they keep asking me about is 'Is Luke Skywalker this? Is Luke Skywalker
that? Is Luke really that muscular? He looks so buff on the holo." Lando
said as he moved his head from side to side using a high pitch squeeky voice.
"Makes me jealous actually, makes me wanna work out."

After another round of laughing, Han spoke once again. "You've been with
women before and have been on several dates over the years, so Mara shouldn't
be any different. Just be yourself and everything will turn out fine."

"Yes but..." With this Luke paused not sure how to go about his next
statement. "She's not like one of those old rebellion groupies that were
always around. Mara is...very special to me. I just don't want to do
anything to screw this up."

With that statement Luke decided it was time to go home. Feeling slightly
tipsy he stood up from his chair he decided to give his parting words. "I
would love to stay and chat guys but I'm still tired from my flight, so I'm
going to call it a night. Thanks for the peptalk, I'll see you guys around."

"Okay Luke, see you later and good luck on your mission." Han said. He was
gonna say it was still early and convince Luke to stay but he knew it would
be a wasted effort. He knew his friend enough that if he made up his mind,
there would be no stopping him.

"Yeah, see you around Luke and good luck." Lando said as he and Han stood up
and shook hands with their jedi friend.

After taking a few steps, Luke turned back to speak to Han.

"One more thing Han...Don't say anything to Leia just yet. I don't want her
to make a big fuss out of this."

"Don't worry kid. Leia's is still off planet with the kids and Chewie.
They're not due back from Kashykk for another week or so."

With that Luke just nodded and turned around and left the bar.

******

After arriving at his apartment, Luke set his travel gear aside and walked to
his kitchen unit.
Once he was there he got himself a glass of water and quickly drank it. He
then looked over at his wall chrono.

"It is only 21:00, I wonder if Mara is home already? Maybe I should give her
a call." He thought to himself as he set his glass down on the nearby table
and made his way back to his living room area.

After picking up his com on the center table, he held the device up and
stared at the digits.
"What if she is still on that date? What if she has that guy over as company
at her appartment right now?" With those thoughts Luke leaned up against the
wall and released a sigh.

I't has been a month since he last saw Mara Jade and he misses her. Luke
Skywalker was so busy building his Jedi Academy on Yavin IV that he had
barely any time to himself let alone have time to do anything about his
feelings for the ex-assasin. But that all changed a couple of days ago when
he decided to take a much needed vacation and placing a hold on construction.
There was really no hurry because there were no students yet to teach, he
hasn't even started looking for any yet.

Still leaning against the wall Luke once again let his thoughts drift back to
Mara. He remembered the moment they shared on the roof of the imperial
palace where he gave her his old lightsaber, not just any lightsaber but
Anakin's lightsaber, his father's lightsaber. He knew extinctively that Mara
should have it. He wanted to tell Mara right there and then about how he
felt but he never did.

Deciding not to dwell on past mistakes, he raised the com once more and
entered Mara's number.

To be continued....

Well...what do you guys think? :)
If you guys have anything suggestions or any suggestions on how I should
continue the story then please don't hesitate to tell me.
Hi everybody, sorry it took me a long time to post this. I was just so busy
with school and work I couldn't find the time to get this story out. My
friend actually looked this over for me, tell me if he missed something. :)
I worked on not switching the tenses, I think I caught them all, tell me if I
missed some. Again, I apologize for the wait. Okay on with the story.

Title: First Date
by Augie

Rating: The story is NC-17 (this chapter is pg-13)

Disclaimer: None of these characters belong to me. They belong to Lucas and
Zahn. I am not making any money out of this.

Setting: A year and a half after the "Last Command"

Summary: Luke asks Mara out on a date.

Chapter Two

Mara Jade was not happy. "I can't believe Karde talked me into this!" Mara
said to herself as she opened the door to her Coruscant apartment.

After entering and closing the door behind her, she then made her way to her
living room table and set down her belongings. "He owes me big time!" Mara
blurted out and unclipped her lightsaber hanging from her dress and held it
out in front of her.

"I could have done something more useful with my time." That something would
have been to see Luke Skywalker. She was going to surprise him at the
docking bay when the emergency call from Karde came.

Since Karde had a business emergency, he had asked Mara to step in for him to
meet with a client for dinner. She usually wouldn't have a problem with this
but as far Mara was concerned the timing couldn't have been worse. She was
really looking forward to see Luke.

After setting down her her lightsaber she heard her com beep.

"Jade here." She answered after picking it up.

"Hello Mara."

"Skywalker?" She asked, and smiled as she sat down on one of the plush
couches and leaned back.

"So how is my one and only student doing?" Luke asked.

Mara then rolled her eyes and sat up a straight to answered his question.
"Lets get one thing straight Skywalker...just because you teach me some
things about the force once and a while does not mean that I'm your little
padawan learner."

"I'm just kidding Mara. I know how you feel about knighthood."

Mara then interrupted Luke knowing that if she didn't he'd be lecturing her
more about what a great jedi she would make. "While we are on the subject,
how is the construction on Yavin IV?"

"Just great, everything is moving along. I put a hold on construction for a
while, I needed a vacation. Plus there is some personal business I need to
attend to."

"A vacation? I didn't know jedi do vacations? And what is this about
personal business?" Mara asked.

Luke was quick to answer. "I'll tell you all about it tomorrow Jade. How
about saber practice tomorrow morning at 0900?"

"I'll be there. It has been a month since I last kicked your behind, I kinda
miss that." Mara stated knowing full well that she has yet to best Luke
when it came to their duels.

"In your dreams Mara. I'll see you tomorrow at the gym then."

"Okay farmboy, I'll see you tomorrow." Mara said and hung up the connection.

Mara then got up from where she sat and then went to her bedroom. Once she
was there she stripped off her green dress and threw on her sleeping shift
that was hanging on one of the chairs by her bedside table.

After slipping under the covers of her bed, Mara reached to turn off her
bedside lamp. Before she could turn it off she took notice of one the
holographs she had stationed by her bedside. Instead of reaching for the
lamp she took the holograph instead and layed back on her pillow.

The holograph was of her and Luke standing side by side just after their trip
to Wayland. The picture was taken by a reporter who then gave her a copy of
the picture as a gift for giving him the exclusive.

As Mara looked at the holo, she thought about what Luke Skywalker meant to
her. Luke trusted her even though nobody else did, he even went as far as to
help brake her out of prison. Sure, Karde and his organization trusted her
but they didn't know about her past. Luke knew, and yet he offered her his
friendship anyway. He had become her best friend, her only friend for that
matter. She never had a friend before, her life as the Emperor's Hand kept
it that way. She was to trust no one. Trust was one thing that Mara Jade
never gave anyone, until now.

Luke is special, she knew that. She admitted to herself that she was just
one of many of Luke's female admirers. Over the year and a half that they
had known each other, she secretly wished that their friendship would develop
into something else, but it never did. All they seem to do most of the time
was argue, but she enjoyed his company anyway. Maybe it was just wishful
thinking on her part. 'What would he see in a former imperial like me
anyway?' Was what she always told herself. Trusting her was one thing, but
to be the object of his love was another.

With that last thought Mara put the holograph back in its previous position
and reached for the lights. She then closed her eyes and drifted off to
sleep.

******

Luke was instantly awake at the sound of alarm that he had set up the
previous evening. "Today is the day." He told himself as he reached over
and thumbed off the alarm that was on his bedside table.

He then sat up on his bed and looked over one of the holographs that he had
there. He focused on the holograph of himself and Mara after the Wayland
event. Unbeknownst to him, the same one Mara had. He never got tired of
looking at the image of them together, it had become almost as a habit for
him to look at the photo before shutting his eyes and going to sleep.

He knew he was taking a big risk today. No matter what the outcome of
today's events are, he knew that his friendship with Mara would never be the
same. If Mara decided to reject his advances, he hoped that they could still
remain friends. That last thought brought about second thoughts.

He shook his head and then forced himself to look away from the holograph.
He reminded himself to remain positive and confident. He can't go about his
day like she already rejected him. He didn't even want to think about what a
rejection like that would do to him. But that was a risk he was willing to
take, he figured that the biggest risk of all is not taking that chance with
Mara Jade.

After taking a quick shower and getting dressed in black excercise pants and
a dark gray sleeveles shirt, Luke was on his way out of his room until
something caught his eye.

Stationed in the corner of his bedroom was a pair of dumbells he usually
worked out with. Luke knitted his eyebrows and just stood there for a minute
then walked over towards the weights and picked them up. He then walked over
towards his full lenght mirror positioned behind his closet door and stood in
front of it. He looked at his image in the mirror with a look of
determination and began doing curl-ups, alternating his movements beginning
with his right arm then switching to his left.

After doing a few sets of repetitions, he began laughing out loud. "This is
stupid." He said to himself. He was still laughing when he put the dumbells
aside. "Here I am working out before going to a work out." He said as he
looked up again at his image and put his hands on the sides of his waist.
"Its amazing what men would do just to impress a woman."

Luke then grabbed his lightsaber on the nearby table and put it in his pocket
and then made his way out of his apartment to make the trip to the gym and
his fate.

****
Luke Skywalker had a big smile on his face as soon as he opened the door to
the spacious gym that Mara was in. She was sitting on the floor dressed in
her usual black tight fitting excercise gear facing away from him and doing
some leg stretches. He slowly made his way towards her, but something wasn't
right, he could feel it.

As soon as he was a couple of meters from her he felt it. The image before
him was a force illusion. Luke quickly stretched out with the force and
tried to locate Mara's presence. He sensed that she was behind him, closing
in silently, comming in hard and fast.

Just as Mara was about to grab him from behind with a light choke hold, Luke
quickly side stepped and positioned himself behind her, and with one fluid
motion grabbed one of Mara's wrist and pinned it behind her back.

Luke moved his head towards Mara's left ear and whispered. "You have got to
be quicker than that Jade."

It took Mara every ounce of control to force her body not to react at the
closeness of their bodies. "Don't fool yourself Jedi. I almost had you and
you know it. Took you long enough to figure out the force illussion." Mara
answered back as she felt something poking at her into the small of her back.

"Almost doesn't count Mara, you know that as well as I do." He said and
smiled thinking that he had just bested her.

"Hey Luke... Is that a lightsaber in your pocket or are you just happy to
see me?" Mara asked grinning and tried desperately to look over her shoulder
to see the look on his face regarding her question.

Luke held her in that position for a moment longer to come up with a reply
and to allow his scarlet face to return to normal. When it did, he released
her and Mara took a couple of steps forward and turned back around to face
him, putting her hands on her slender hips.

Luke reached into his right pocket and slowly pulled out his lightsaber. "My
weapon of choice." Luke answered as he tilted his head to the side and held
out his lightsaber.

Mara just smiled at that. 'So he came to play.' She said to herself and
whipped out her own lightsaber and ignited the blue blade. "But the question
is farmboy, do you know how to use it?"

"Why don't you come and find out." Luke bantered back and ignited his green
blade then waved her in using his lightsaber.

Both Luke and Mara went at it. Neither one got the upper hand as they fought
in silence. Mara was the aggressor while Luke was content to just parry her
blows and continued to wait patiently for an openning to begin his counter
strike.

They sparred like this nonstop for almost twenty minutes. Both of them were
now drenched with perspiration. Mara held the blade above her head and
sliced down towards Luke's head. He easily blocked it by bringing his own
blade up. This brought them only inches apart from each other.

"So how was your dinner date last night Mara?" Luke finally asked the
question he was dying to ask about.

"What?" Mara asked frowning and pushed Luke off using her blade.

"You heared me. I asked you how it went with your date last night?"

Luke and Mara both just stared at one other and both held a defensive stance
as they circled around each other.

"How did you know I was out last night? I didn't know you kept tabs on me?"
Mara asked.

"Like you Jade, I have my sources. Answer my question Mar." Luke said
trying to keep his tone of voice to sound as normal as possible.

Mara couldn't help the smile that formed on her beautiful face. 'I think
I'll have some fun with you first before I answer your question.' She said
to herself.

"It was actually a lovely evening farmboy." Mara said and then once again
continued her attack on Luke. "He took me to one of those fancy upscale
restaurants uptown, I think you have heared of it before, the Jewel."

Mara then kept the pressure on and kept Luke on the defensive. Luke remained
silent and allowed Mara to continue.

"He's a nice guy Skywalker, his name is Renzo Cyan, I'll introduce you to him
sometime." Mara said and carefully studied his face for any kind of reaction
at all.

"So what is he like?" Luke asked casually. He appeared calm on the outside
but inside he was boiling with jealousy. He shut down lightsaber and Mara
did the same with hers.

"Well... He's tall, and dark, and good looking. Very attractive." Mara
answered and caught something through the force from Luke. Was it jealousy?

Mara arched an eyebrow at Luke. Hey! Why the sudden interest Skywalker?
If I didn't know you any better I'd say your jealous." Mara said and put her
right hand on her hip.

She fully expected Luke to turn red, or even bolt out of there, she was
totally caught off guard by what he did.

Luke took a few strides and closed the gap between them. When he stopped,
they were only about six inches apart.

He mustered all the courage he can gather and spoke in a huskily manner.
"What if..." He paused. "I said that I am jealous Mara?" Luke asked as he
looked her straight in her emerald eyes.

To say Mara was surprised would be an understatement. She willed herself not
to take a step backwards. It was also hard for her to break eye contact.
She was just mesmerized by his baby blue colored eyes.

"I... I..." She finally broke away from his gaze. She tried to say
something, but nothing would come out, she couldn't even think of anything to
say. It didn't happen very often, Mara was speechless.

Luke then grabbed Mara's right hand with his left and held it. "How about I
take you out tonight? Just you and me, on a date."

Mara's head snapped up at his question and stared at him , not fully sure if
she had heared him correctly or not.

"Yes Mara, a date. There will be no talk about the jedi, politics, the state
of the New Republic or the smugglers alliance. Just us, it would give us a
chance to get to know each other better, on a more personal level. What do
you say?"

Mara didn't hesitate, she just nodded since she was still at a loss for
words. She was happy, there was no doubt about that, she just wasn't
expecting Luke Skywalker to ask her out on a date.

"How about I pick you up at 1600? Is that fine?"

"Yes, that's fine." Mara found her voice and answered instead of just
nodding and getting some of her composure back.

"Okay then, it's a date." Luke said smilling from ear to ear.

"Our time is up for the gym, lets get out of here." Luke stated.

Mara and Luke then made their way of the gym and went their separate ways.
Both lost in their own thoughts.

To be continued...

Well, liked it? :) I appologize if both Mara and Luke are a bit out of
character. I'm still new at this so forgive me.