This is my first ever Star Wars fan fic

This is my first ever Star Wars fan fic. I'm very nervous about posting this for two reasons. ONE - you all are wonderful writers and I have read some of the most amazing fan fics here! TWO: I do NOT know how to write anything in the least bit technical. So even though I adore SW fan fiction, I've never atempted it intil now. All feedback is greatly appreiciated.

Thanks to TheRealMaraJade for her beta read and encouragement. This story takes place sometime after the events of "Darksaber." I WILL get to the um...good stuff, so eventually this fic will be rated "R".

I don't own SW, Luke, Mara, or any thing related. I'm just playing with them. Thanks George Lucas and Timothy Zahn.

CHAPTER ONE

Looking over an inventory list of her latest shipment, Mara Jade sat in her quarters on board the Jade's Fire. Her legs crossed in front of her while she sat on the bed, leaning against the wall. It had been a long day bargaining with the Twi'leks and she could feel her eyelids getting heavy. She would leave in the morning after a well- deserved night's rest. The comm unit sounded and Mara turned around with a jerk. Who would be calling at this hour?

"Jade here," she said sleepily into the comm.

"Mara, I was hoping to reach you before you left."

Skywalker...I should have guessed...

"I didn't wake you, did I?"

She rolled her eyes in annoyance. "No. What do you want?"

There was a pause and she knew just what he was thinking. I was too curt in my answer and now he thinks I'm mad. She could picture him pursing his lips and frowning, wondering what he had done wrong. "Listen, Skywalker, you didn't wake me up but I was just about to turn in. So if you could tell me what's up then maybe I could get some sleep."

"I just spoke to Leia and she mentioned you were on Ryloth picking up some supplies for the med center on Coruscant."

"Yeah," Mara yawned.

"Well, if it wouldn't bother you too much, I was wondering if I could hitch a ride with you."

Mara looked at the comm in confusion. "You're on Ryloth?" That's odd. Usually I can sense him if he's near. She reached out in the Force, searching, but didn't feel that familiar sensation that was Luke.

"No, I'm on Tattooine. I wondered if you could swing over and pick me up."

Now it was Mara's turn to pause and think. "What in blazes are you doing on Tattooine? Without a ship?"

Luke laughed and Mara felt a tingle run up her spine at the sound. She hadn't heard him laugh in a long time - and Luke had one of the nicest laughs she had ever heard. "I came out to visit an old friend." As if sensing her next question he added, "Don't worry. He isn't a Jedi. I think this planet has run out of them."

Only Skywalker would joke about that.

"Han dropped me off a few days ago and was supposed to return this evening, but the Falcon is having trouble with its nav computer. He's stuck on Kashyyyk until he can fix it."

Mara rubbed at her eyes. "Where exactly are you?"

"You wouldn't know the place. But I could meet you in Mos Eisley. If that's all right with you?"

Mara took a deep breath and considered the options. She could say no and just forget about it. She knew Luke wouldn't be upset at her because she could say she was in a real hurry. But that would be lying, and she hated lying - especially to Luke. But if she said yes... that would mean spending a few days with him - alone - with no excuses to get away - in close quarters...

What is it that worries you, anyway? It's just Luke. She bit at her thumbnail and rolled the name over in her mind. Luke... Luke...

"Mara, if it's too much of a bother then..."

"No, it's fine. I plan on leaving early so I should be able to meet you by noon."

"Wonderful. I'll be at the space port waiting."

There was another pause and Mara wasn't exactly sure what she was supposed to say. She licked her lips and sat forward. "Well...ah...I guess...I'll see you tomorrow then."

"I look forward to it. And Mara - thanks for doing this."

"Anytime."

She sat back against the wall. What did I just say? Anytime? What am I thinking?

She ran a frustrated hand through her hair and tossed the data pad on the table next to the bed. "Anytime..." she said out loud to herself. "That's just what you need; Luke Skywalker thinking you're at his beck and call."

She stretched her legs, stood up, and went into the refresher. She quickly busied herself with her usual nighttime ritual of washing her face and brushing out her hair. But a nagging thought probed at her mind. She stopped suddenly and looked at her reflection in the mirror. You will see Luke tomorrow. A flirtatious smile crossed her face. She twisted her hair up the back of her head and sloppily styled it, a few tendrils falling down her back and around her face. She adjusted her top so that it fell over her left shoulder, revealing more skin than normal. I wonder...

She allowed her thoughts to wander and a small laugh escaped her throat. What was that? Did I just...giggle?

Snapping out of her thoughts, Mara let her hair drop and began brushing her teeth. Get a grip on yourself, Jade. This is Luke you're thinking about. He's never thought of you as anything but a friend. No - not exactly a friend. She rinsed out her mouth and said, "Well, whatever he thinks, he most certainly doesn't think of you that way."

Walking to her bed, she drew back the covers and climbed in. Besides, where did these thoughts about Luke come from in the first place? He's just...Luke...and...that's all.

But that wasn't all. As much as she hated to admit it, Luke Skywalker had been on her mind a great deal over the last year. They had only seen each other a few times, but with each meeting her feelings for him softened. He was easy for her to talk to, and - most surprising of all - she genuinely trusted him. And that was saying something coming from Mara Jade. Not only that, but she respected him. And for some odd reason, he seemed to trust and respect her too. I wonder why?

It wasn't as if Mara was the nicest person in the galaxy. Especially when it came to Luke. She had given him a piece of her mind on more than one occasion. Usually, he took it like a gentleman, but every now and then they would have it out with each other. Sometimes Luke would come back with a statement that would stop Mara in her tracks - like the time Luke asked her why she didn't finish her training. She had her reasons, and she didn't want Luke to know about that.

No, he's much too sensitive about THAT topic. I can't bring it up.

She flopped over onto her stomach and hugged her pillow. Willing her body to relax and fall to sleep, she closed her eyes and slowed her breathing. But sleep wouldn't come. Her thoughts were now focused on the passenger she would pick up tomorrow. The passenger she would be spending the next few days with. The passenger with the boyish charm and the talent of a Jedi Master. Not to mention his sandy blond hair and sparkling blue eyes. And as a Jedi Master, he's probably very fit with a well-defined body...

Stang! Get out of my head, Skywalker!

It was sure to be a long night.

************

"Well...ah...I guess...I'll see you tomorrow then." Mara's voice sounded over the comm.

"I look forward to it." He swallowed and added, "And Mara - thanks for doing this."

"Anytime."

His eyes stayed focused on the comm even though he knew the conversation was over. It was never easy talking to Mara. He always felt as if he were treading water where she was concerned. If he said one wrong thing, he would slip and go under, and he didn't want that to happen. He wanted to maintain their friendship - a friendship he valued greatly.

Almost too greatly.

He left the communication center and headed to his temporary room. Once there, he lay down on the bed, hands behind his head, and looked up at the ceiling. Mara...

He would be alone with her for more than two days in a row. How was he ever going to manage civilized conversation with her for two days and not end up looking like an idiot? It's not that he necessarily said stupid things; it's just that Mara always had a way of turning his words on him. She never let her guard down - and she never missed a beat.

Well, she almost never misses. There are still some things I've managed to keep hidden.

Luke had to admit though that it was becoming more difficult to keep things hidden from Mara. The more time they spent together, the easier it was for him to sense her, feel her emotions, and even sometimes hear her thoughts. He could hear her mind more clearly than anyone's - even Leia's. He supposed it was due to the fact that Mara had been trained so well by the Emperor to hear his thoughts, that now she was able to pick up on others thoughts. But for Luke, this was new territory. It was unlike any relationship he had ever had with another Jedi.

But Mara isn't a Jedi.

He shook his head and wondered, again, why it was she had never finished her training. She left Yavin in such a hurry and didn't even flinch when Luke asked her to stay. It would always be a touchy spot in their relationship. Maybe someday she would explain, but for now Luke got the distinct impression that it was not to be discussed.

So, what will we talk about?

He rolled over onto his side and pulled the covers up over his chest. "Farmboy," he said out loud. "I bet she greats me with `farmboy'." Luke laughed quietly at the name. He closed his eyes and imagined her teasing him with the name. He could hear her voice in his mind as if she were standing next to him. She laughed and flipped her long, red mane over her shoulder. Gods, she has beautiful hair! Then the image stalled on a simple, but beautiful smile.

Luke exhaled in frustration. Get a grip, Skywalker. Wait...that's not what I meant! He brushed the image from his mind and pulled into himself, demanding his body to relax and sleep. You're going to need all the rest you can get if you plan on matching wits with Mara for the next few days.

He fell asleep with the lingering image of Mara Jade still smiling at him.

CHAPTER TWO

No one would have guessed that the man sitting in the lounge was a Jedi Master. A cape fell over his shoulders and torso, protecting his body from the winds. The hat on his head did little for keeping sand out of his hair, but the wide brim was able to shield his face from the sun. His boots, once dark in color, were now covered in sand and very dirty. If it weren't for the lightsaber hanging from his belt under the cloak, any passerby would have mistaken him for a poor desert hermit rather than a Jedi Master.

The sound of a ship flying overhead caused Luke to glance skyward. The Jade's Fire circled the spaceport before making its way down to the landing platform. Luke stood up and readied himself to great the beautiful pilot of the magnificent vessel. Ready as I'll ever be.

The hatch door opened and Mara stepped out and looked around.

She doesn't recognize me!

Luke felt Mara searching for him through the Force. "I'm here," he said, picking up his bag and walking over to her.

Her jaw dropped. "What in blazes are you wearing?"

"You don't approve of my wardrobe?"

She cocked an eyebrow. "When have I ever approved of your wardrobe, Skywalker? And just for the record, in the future if you ever have to choose between boring Jedi black and this," she said waving a hand at his get up, "go with the black." She turned and headed back onto the ship. "Make sure you shake the sand out of your hair before you get on my ship," she called over her shoulder.

Luke laughed and followed her up the ramp and into the ship. Mara didn't waste any time and went right for the pilot's seat. Luke placed his bag down and joined her in the cockpit. "Mind if I have a seat?"

She eyed him up and down. "Don't get my cockpit dirty."

"Mara, this is standard gear for life on Tattoine," he said taking a seat.

"Well, it just goes to prove that you can take the boy off the farm, but you can't take the farm out of the boy."

I knew she'd call me `farmboy'!

Mara glanced at him out of the corner of her eye and then punched in her launch code. A moment later, the Jade's Fire was lifting out of the docking bay and into the sky. The two sat in silence while Mara made adjustments to the nav computer, plotting their course for Coruscant .

Guess I'm going to be the one to start up the conversation. Let's see if I can manage to keep things calm. I don't' want to upset her.

Before he could figure out what to say, Mara beat him to it with an obvious question. "So, what exactly were you doing out here again?"

"An old friend of mine was having a birthday party."

"And he just happened to invite you?"

He didn't like the way she said that. "You find that odd?"

"Did you get invited because you are Master Skywalker? Or is he really just an old friend."

Luke looked down at his hands. "I hope it was because of the latter reason."

Mara eyed him suspiciously. "I've never heard you mention friends that still lived on Tattoine."

"You never asked."

"Hummm...."

Again, he didn't like her response. He was so very tempted to reach out to her mind, but he know that would only get him into trouble. Going to have to do this the old fashioned way and just ask. "What is it?"

"I was just curious as to why you would attend an old friend's birthday party." There was a pause before she continued. "I mean, did you go to catch up on old times - or was it an attempt to show him what you've accomplished in life?"

Luke licked at his lips.

"That's what I thought," Mara said evenly.

"No, Mara, it isn't what you think."

She ignored him. "Let me guess, this guy used to make fun of you. He was the hot shot in town and you always were one step behind." She looked over at him and smiled. "I bet he even had a nick name for you that you hated. Something really awful."

Luke blinked. He didn't feel her mind touching his so she couldn't have read his thoughts. How is she getting this?

"I'm right, aren't I?" Luke looked away, and Mara smiled. "I knew it! What was it, Skywalker? Youngster? Womprat? Whiny boy?"

Luke met her eyes. A touch of anger rose to color his cheeks.

"You might as well tell me because I will find out," she laughed.

"Can we just drop this?"

"No. So did you insist on having him call you Master? Master Skywalker?"

That was the final blow and Luke bit out a bit harsher than he intended. "I would never insist on something like that!"

"I know!" she said in anger.

"He calls me Luke. Just Luke." He shook his head in frustration. "Were you never teased in your past, Mara? Because I refuse to believe that. Everyone gets teased at some point."

"HA! Not me! Not if they wanted to live to see another day."

"You were never teased about being one of the Empire's playthings?"

She gasped and stared at him hard. "That's different! I only portrayed myself as such to get inside information."

"Ok, then. What about your hair? Not many people have bright red hair. I'm sure someone teased you about it sometime."

Mara nearly came out of her seat in rage. "First I'm a plaything and now you don't like my hair?"

Luke swallowed. "I never said that."

"But you implied it."

They sat in silence. Luke hesitantly and carefully reached out to her, hoping to find a way to fix the situation. He found her mind completely shut off from him. She was blocking him.

So much for not upsetting her. Me and my big mouth.

"I'm sorry," he softly said. "I didn't mean to make you angry. Can we just forget this happened?"

Her eyes slowly moved to meet his. "You tell me the nick name and I'll forget you insulted my hair."

"I didn't insult your hair."

She looked away, unsatisfied.

Sitting forward in his chair, Luke asked, "Why do you want to know this, anyway?"

"Because - " she stammered. "I need something - " She sighed heavily. "You knew I was going to call you `farmboy'. I need to find a new nick name to pester you with."

She was reading my thoughts? A warm smile covered his face. "I have a first name. Why don't you try calling me Luke?"

Her eyes met his - not in anger, but in a gentle way. Luke felt her drop some of that barrier and reach out to him slightly. Her eyes were so deep; he thought he would drown in them in that instant. He'd never noticed how very green they were. The moment passed, and Luke took a deep breath when she looked away.

"Ok...Luke." Her voice was just more than a whisper. She rubbed her neck, fidgeting with her flight suit. "That takes away some of my fun, you know."

"Oh, I'm sure you'll find some other way to torment me." He meant it as a joke, but when her eyes locked with his again, he knew he had said the wrong thing again. He knew that his feelings for Mara were confusing and a torment in and of themselves. Question was - did she know that?

She drew her attention back to her console and began making minor adjustments here and there. Even without using the Force, Luke could tell she was looking for something else to do. "What do you have to eat?"

Relaxing a bit, Mara said, "Do you ever think about anything but food?"

Oh, Mara, if you only knew! "Yes," he said standing up. "But not when I'm hungry. I'll fix you something if you'd like."

She leaned back in her chair and looked up at him. "Knock yourself out. But be careful. One of the Twi'leks gave me - I dunno - some sort of dead animal. Doesn't look too tasty if you ask me."

"I'm sure I'll manage."

***

An hour later Mara sat down at the table across from Luke. She took a bite and went wide-eyed. "Hey, this is good."

"You sound surprised."

"I didn't know you could cook."

"There's a lot about me you don't know, Mara."

Again, green eyes met blue. Luke held her gaze for as long as he could. "Some of your cooking supplies looked like they had never been used."

"I don't like to cook," she said taking a bite. "I'm not very domestic. When I want good food, I order out."

"It wouldn't hurt to learn," he said casually.

She stopped eating and leaned in, resting her crossed arms on the tabletop. "You're always trying to teach me something, aren't you Skywalker?"

We're back to Skywalker.

"It's a habit!" she admitted, once again reading his mind.

Luke smiled. "Yes, there are some things I would like to teach you. There are new positions - maneuvers..." He meant it innocently, but when he looked up to see Mara blush he realized exactly what he had just said. "I didn't mean...I was talking about..." Calm down! "I meant that I would like the chance to teach you some things about the Force."

Mara wet her lips. "I know what you meant - Luke," she said pointedly, making sure he heard her say it. "And I would be willing to learn if I didn't have to attend that Jedi Academy of yours. It felt wrong for me to be there. Almost as if the others didn't want me there."

He could tell there was more to it than just that, but he didn't push the issue. "Well, what if we tried something tomorrow? Here on the ship. You don't have plans, do you?"

She sat back and tapped her index finger on her lips. "Let's see. My to do list for this trip included insulting you a few times, getting into a fight, apologizing, eating dinner, and somewhere in there making some sort of sexual innuendo." She looked across the table at him. "I've done all of that already so I can't think of anything I have to do tomorrow."

Luke laughed. "Ok, then. We'll start tomorrow morning." Let's just hope we can get through this without killing each other.

Part Three

Luke led the way into the common room, Mara followed behind him. He pulled off his jacket and flung it over the back of one of the chairs. He dropped the bag that he carried on the floor.

"So what will it be first? A meditation trance or reciting the Jedi code?" Mara said mockingly. Sure, she had agreed to participate in this "lesson", but she didn't say she would enjoy it.

Luke was bent over with his back to her. Mara's eyes wandered over his form. *Nice view!* Luke rummaged around in his bag until he found what he was looking for. "Neither. I thought we would start with this." He held up a small sphere and looked at Mara with a smirk.

"What's that for? Batting practice?"

Luke stood up and walked over to her tool cabinet. "This is a remote, Mara. I thought we could start by working on your skills with a lightsaber." He was once again searching for something among the tools.

Mara laughed. "Skywalker, I don't need help in that area. I could take on that thing with my eyes closed!"

Luke paused and looked at her. "That's what I'm counting on."

Mara noticed that he had pulled out an old helmet from the supplies. He crossed to her and placed it gently on her head. The blast shield was down and Mara was blind to the world. "Is this some sort of joke?"

Luke laughed. "That's what I thought when Ben made me do the same thing. But he made a good point. We rely on our eyes too much. They can deceive us. It's better to rely on the Force for your knowledge - especially in battle."

"All right, but so help me, if I get singed by that thing you're going to have to find another ride home." She unclipped her lightsaber from her belt and ignited it.

"If you get hit, Mara, it's because you aren't concentrating hard enough. Stretch out with your feelings and find the remote. Your danger sense will tell you when to attack. "

"Yes, *Master*," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. Even though she couldn't see him, Mara sensed Luke's disappointment that she wasn't taking this as seriously as he had hoped. *Come on, you can behave just this once. Besides, he is right, you could use the practice.* "Sorry. I'll focus."

Reaching out through the Force, Mara immediately found Luke. That was easy. She could always feel his presence. But the remote was small - mechanical - and moving. *Where are you?* A moment later Mara felt the energy from the remote as it circled her. She parried and blocked the first round of blasts. Smiling in her triumph, she lost it again. Reaching out, she found it behind her. She spun around and just barely managed to block the next blast coming her way.

"Good. A Jedi must never celebrate the victory until he is certain the fight is over."

Mara rolled her eyes and was grateful that Luke couldn't see her. "Where did you learn that one from? The Emperor?" A few more blasts came her way. She dodged the first and reflected the other two towards Luke. She felt him jump to the side and knew she had missed.

"So that's how you want to play this?" Luke muttered under his breath and Mara knew she was in for it now.

*At last - a real challenge!*

The remote continued its attack on Mara, circling her and shooting at her from all angles. Mara blocked everything coming at her easily. Curious as to how long she would have to perform, she reached out in the Force for Luke. She was surprised to find him only a few inches behind her. Her danger sense flared up instantly.

She quickly jammed her elbow into his stomach sending him backwards with an, "Omph!" Kicking out her left leg, she managed to spin around and sweep right under Luke's legs. The blow knocked him to the ground. Mara threw off the helmet and looked down at the fallen Jedi.

"You're on the floor, Skywalker," teased Mara.

"Yes. Because someone has been holding back."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

Luke stood up, unhooked his lightsaber from his belt and ignited it. "You caught me off guard. Something that doesn't normally happen to me."

A smile tugged at the corner of Mara's mouth. "I suggest you get used to it."

She lunged towards him and attacked fiercely. The blue and green blades hit, sending sparks through the air. Mara didn't hold back and soon she felt her breathing starting to shallow. Reaching out, she could feel Luke's calm demeanor slip with each clash of the blades. *I have to wear him down! He will not beat me!*

She pulled her thoughts away from Luke's feelings and concentrated on her blade. With each turn and thrust she made, Luke countered her. Closing her mind to him, she rounded her back and flipped over him to land behind him. Before he could turn, she thrust her blade forward, knocking the lightsaber out of Luke's hand. She froze with the tip of her blade inches from Luke's face.

Breathing heavily, Luke admitted defeat. "You have been holding back on me."

"I told you a long time ago, if it hadn't been necessary to keep you alive I would have had no problem killing you." She relaxed and took a step back.

"And I never said I didn't believe you. It's just..." Luke paused and switched off his saber.

"Just what?" Mara said grabbing up a canteen and gulping down the water.

"I always knew you were powerful. I guess I never admitted to myself just how deadly you could be."

Mara offered him the canteen and he gladly accepted it. "I worked for the Emperor, Luke. Which part of `trained assassin' didn't you understand?"

Their eyes met. The only sound was the heavy breathing showing both of their exhaustion. Mara's heart began to race faster under Luke's stare. *He's looking into me! What does he want?*

"How long did you train with Palpatine?"

She pulled her eyes away quickly and took the canteen from him. "Why do you ask?"

"Several times I've noted that you use a lightsaber in ways I've never thought of. I just wondered how long you spent working on those techniques."

Mara shrugged and avoided Luke's eyes. "The usual I guess." *Just drop it, farmboy!*

"Was he good with a lightsaber?"

"Who?" *Damn!* "Palpatine?"

Luke laughed. "Yes, Palpatine. I never saw him use one."

"Nether did I."

Luke furrowed his brow. "But didn't he teach you how to use a lightsaber?"

"No. He didn't." Mara met his gaze and pursed her lips. *Here it comes. How many times have I managed to avoid this very discussion? *

"Well, if he didn't, then how did you learn? I mean, a lightsaber isn't something you just pick up and try for yourself."

"That's right. That's why Palpatine never used one. He was never formally trained to use one." She could feel the confusion coming from Luke. "He didn't discover his power until he was too old for the training. But he could still use his power and he found that he was very good at concealing it from others. The more power he sought in the government, the more his power in the Force grew. He used his power for gain and personal profit - all dark side traits. And he spent his spare time learning about the powers of the Sith. We both know that the dark side is quicker and easier. When he revealed his power in the Force, he was already deep into the ways of the Sith, with an apprentice at his side."

Luke leaned back against the wall. "Father..."

Mara licked her lips. "So, he never really learned proper Jedi techniques."

She felt the question coming from Luke's mind. "Who taught me, then? Well, Palpatine spent long hours helping me concentrate on his voice. He trained me in that matter. And in some other ways - like how to mask my emotions. But anything in relation to real Jedi training came from the only man Palpatine trusted who had been trained by the Jedi."

Luke gasped. His jaw dropped.

Mara took another drink. "I - I didn't know how to tell you."

"I don't believe this," Luke said, shaking his head.

"Oh, believe it. I nearly got myself killed a few times. Vader was an excellent swordsman. His technique was impeccable. His teaching on the other hand... well..."

"What?"

Mara grimaced. "Let's just say that you're the better teacher in the family."

"Thanks - I think." His shoulders slumped and eyes fell to the floor.

*Sithspit! This is why I never told him!* "Luke, I didn't tell you this to hurt you. In fact, if you choose to look at this from another point of view, this could be a good thing. I mean, how much proper training with a saber did you ever get?"

Luke looked up. His eyes sparkled with an idea. "You're right. We could combine the training I received with your own training to fill in the blanks. Between the two of us, we could teach the Jedi Knights to defend themselves like never before since the fall of the Empire. Think of the possibilities!"

"WHOA! Slow down there! Are you suggesting I actually teach some of your students?"

"Yes! Why not?"

"I'll give you two reasons. One - I'm not a Jedi. Your students wouldn't listen to me even if you paid them. Two - I have no desire to leave my business behind to run off and sword fight with a bunch of over achieving kids!"

"But Mara..."

"No way, Skywalker. I'll tell you whatever you want to know. But that's where the education stops. I'm running a business for myself and that's where I intend to stay!" Anger flashed in her green eyes.

"Then why bother trying to help anyone at all?" Luke clipped his lightsaber back onto his belt and grabbed his jacket from off the chair. "You know, Mara, I've been wrong about you. All this time I've had some hope that you would someday become a Jedi. But that would mean giving up some of yourself - something I now know is impossible for you to do."

He turned with a jerk and stormed out of the room leaving Mara speechless.