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Author	Topic: The Sadder but Wiser Girl for Me (Luke/Mara) updated 10-6-08!
redtenko Registered: Nov '06	Date Posted: 12/26/06 9:09pm Subject: The Sadder but Wiser Girl for Me (Luke/Mara) updated 10-6-08! - Date Edited: 10/6/08 11:51pm (6 edits total) Edited By: redtenko
	Okay, never posted a fic on this site before so let me know if I did anything wrong. Here we go: Title: The Sadder but Wiser Girl for Me By: redtenko Rating: PGish Pairings: Luke/Mara with appearances by our favorite married friends. Disclaimer: Don't own 'em. Don't make monney off 'em. Written for fun, not profit. Summary: The secret of Luke’s crush on Mara comes out in a disastrous way, and suddenly everyone’s making it their business. . -- “You know, I can’t help but feel a little responsible for this mess,” Wedge mused, looking around the room. Corran nodded. “I know what you mean,” he said. “Guy’s got three married Corellian friends to help him out. If he hasn’t won the girl yet, the problem is obviously with us.” “It’s not my fault,” groused Han from the sofa. He looked over his shoulder at the dark lump occupying the far chair by the window. “How ya doin’ there, kid?” Luke Skywalker, Jedi Master, sat sunk impossibly far into the cushions, his chin molded to his collarbone. The only reply Han received was a very muffled, pitiful groan. “See? He’s fine,” Han winced, turning back to the Rogues in his living room. “But this is definitely a delicate situation. Possibly dangerous, depending on how your wife’s handling things on her end,” he looked toward Corran, who was checking his chrono for the umpteenth time. Wedge was about ready to slap the chrono from his wrist, Horn had him so agitated. “I’m sure Mirax will call if Jade decides to renew her vow to kill Luke,” he assured the group. Corran grunted and moved to refill his drink, nerves reacting in a way his friends usually associated with a visit from Booster Terrik. Wedge rolled his eyes and exchanged a look with Chewbacca. “Anyway,” he began, having every indication of bringing the men back to the subject at hand: Luke’s disastrously public blunder with Mara Jade. As far as he was concerned, the women were in charge of calming the former Emperor’s Hand, and Luke was the responsibility of his brothers in arms. “Luke’s obviously got to act fast before she jumps planet,” he reminded them. “But he needs some means of approaching her without getting his ass kicked straight to—” “I’m sitting right here!” Luke moaned from his chair. “Just trying to help, buddy,” Han assured the despairing Jedi while biting back a smirk. He hadn’t heard Luke whine like that in a long time. “We’re on your side.” “Horn’s on Mara’s,” Luke muttered. The other men turned their gaze back to Corran, who was again checking his chrono. The Force strong pilot looked up when he felt eyes on him, and glared back defiantly. “Okay, first of all: there aren’t really any sides; we all agree Luke messed up,” he said, pausing to sip his brandy. “Secondly, yeah, I feel for Mara more in this. She’s emotionally confused enough, now the poor woman probably doesn’t know what to think. What with the way he blindsided her and all.” “Well, hopefully Mirax is keeping her calm,” Tycho offered. He’d been sitting peaceably, trying to mind his own business as much as he could without being rude. “Drinking with Mirax is not calming,” Corran retorted, checking his chrono once again. “Stop that,” Wedge growled. “Tycho’s right. The women get along. They’ll have their ‘girl talk’; it’ll be a good thing. Mara can rant, blow off her steam ahead of time and Luke can move in when she’s calmed down.” “Again, I’m still here,” Luke called from the cushions. He was getting pretty sick of hearing about himself. “Luke, I wasn’t talking about you and Mara,” Han raised his palms, trying to clarify. “I mean, I was—but I was just saying we’re on your side when it comes to Lando. He’s my friend and all, but him and Mara? I just don’t see it.” Luke’s fingers, which had been futilely rubbing his temples, moved to pinch the bridge of his nose as he grimaced. “I don’t want to fight with Lando,” he groaned miserably, the stress of the evening visible in his features. “I wonder how many more friendships I can ruin tonight. Maybe I’ll go call the academy and insult Streen’s mother.” “Don’t worry about Lando,” Han eased, again fighting to hold his amusement from the now downright snippy Jedi. “I fought with him over plenty of women—no hard feelings in the end. I’m sure he’s more surprised than mad. Never occurred to him he’d be competing with you.” Luke gave a miserable moan and actually managed to sink further into the chair, his head now close to the seat cushion. “I…it’s not a contest!” he exclaimed, purely exhausted with the room. “It’s not like Lando and I are the only options Mara has. It’s probably going to be neither of us.” The men were all silent for a moment, save Chewie’s sympathetic rumbling. This thought hadn’t occurred to anyone else until Luke voiced it. “Well you certainly won’t win her over with that attitude,” Wedge pointed out. Corran agreed, and opened his mouth to remind Luke how much Mara hated his moping, but decided now was not the time. Again he checked his chrono, wishing Mirax would call and tell them just what would win Mara over, or if there was any hope at all. “I am going to take that from you, I swear,” Wedge threatened, eyeing the timepiece with irritation. His friend’s abnormally anxious attitude was not what the room needed right now. Corran glared at his commanding officer, as unwilling to calm down as he was unable. His worries about what trouble Mara and Mirax were causing together had mixed with the sadness and humiliation leaking through Luke’s Force barriers. Feeling over sensitized, he took another aggressive sip of his drink. “Come on, Kid,” Han urged, his voice calling the others back to attention. “He’s right, about your attitude—you’re over thinking all this.” “I’m over thinking?” Luke echoed flatly. “You are! This is not the attitude that got your sister out of the Death Star,” the former smuggler reminded him. His gut told him he’d hooked onto a good analogy, and he went with it. “If you’d given up the rescue idea before you even started, none of us would be here today.” There was a thoughtful pause, then, “If you recall, my impulsiveness got us walled into the detention block by squads of storm troopers,” Luke said. He was determined not to be cheered up. “Leia had to save us with her garbage-shoot idea.” Han’s nose involuntarily cringed at the memory, and Chewie laughed. “Then some creature tried to choke me, and we nearly got flattened when Threepio turned off the comlink,” Luke listed. “Over-thinking is sounding pretty good from here. I think I’ve been impulsive enough for a lifetime—if I didn’t prove it back then I certainly did tonight.” Corran glared over the rim of his now empty glass. “I think what tonight proves is you shouldn’t bottle up your emotions.” “There is no emotion, there—” The entire room, including Tycho, groaned loudly with enough exasperation to drown out the rest of the Jedi code. Luke’s shoulders hunched peevishly at the interruption. He grabbed the arms of the chair and at last pushed himself upright. “Come on, Luke,” entreated Wedge. “The Force can’t possibly have a problem with people being happy. Seems to me happy people function better, and what’s the Force gonna do with Jedi who don’t function right?” “What? That doesn’t make—I function!” Luke felt a surge of indignance, but wasn’t sure where to aim it. Han sighed. “I think…I think what Wedge is trying to say is that people who don’t feel the Force have just as many problems, and you’re just using that Jedi code as an excuse not to deal with your own troubles like anyone else would.” “Exactly!” Wedge gave the back of the couch a hearty slap. “Now, about Jade. Maybe I can get a block on the Fire’s clearance and—” “Oooh no,” Corran shook his head. “You mess with Mara Jade’s ship, or even her ship’s clearance codes…I’d sooner kiss Booster’s feet than be near you when she finds out.” “But what if we—” Luke stood up quickly. “Listen, I think I’m just gonna head home,” he announced, calling his wrinkled cloak to his hand and pulling it on. “Luke—” Han began, but stopped, recognizing the man’s unfortunate mood. His bother-in-law’s shoulders were slumped in a combination of forced calm and premature defeat. “Thanks for trying to help, but what I really need is some meditation…or some sleep,” the Jedi continued, heading for the door. “Could you tell Leia I’ll call her tomorrow?” “Sure, kid, but…” “Thanks,” Luke mumbled. “See you later.” And with that, he slipped through the door before anyone could think of a useful reply. The foyer doors slid shut, and the last thing Luke Skywalker heard before stepping into the hallway was the loud buzz of the apartment’s comm station, followed by the even louder “FINALLY!” from Corran Horn. ~~ end of part 1 ~~ -----signature----- "Luminous beings are we...not this crude matter" ~ Yoda Current fic, The Sadder but Wiser Girl for Me http://boards.theforce.net/beyond_the_saga/b10477/25848196/p1
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tasujad Registered: Jun '05	Date Posted: 12/27/06 1:12am Subject: RE: The Sadder but Wiser Girl for Me (a L/M story, featuring H/L, Karrde, and Rogues)
	well, the start is good Had some insain laughing attacks and hope to see some more "especially liked the Corran's comment on messing Fires clearance codes " -----signature----- The force is ALWAYS with me * *well almost always - i hope
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Mira_Jade Registered: Jun '04	Date Posted: 12/27/06 4:31am Subject: RE: The Sadder but Wiser Girl for Me (a L/M story, featuring H/L, Karrde, and Rogues)
	The title drew me in, I must admit. I'm a sucker for show tunes. And what a find did I make, this is a very promising start, and I very look forward to more! “I’m over thinking?” Luke echoed flatly. “You are! This is not the attitude that got your sister out of the Death Star,” the former smuggler reminded him. His gut told him he’d hooked onto a good analogy, and he went with it. “If you’d given up the rescue idea before you even started, none of us would be here today.” There was a thoughtful pause, then, “If you recall, my impulsiveness got us walled into the detention block by squads of storm troopers,” Luke said. He was determined not to be cheered up. “Leia had to save us with her garbage-shoot idea.” Han’s nose involuntarily cringed at the memory, and Chewie laughed. “Then some creature tried to choke me, and we nearly got flattened when Threepio turned off the comlink,” Luke listed. “Over-thinking is sounding pretty good from here. I think I’ve been impulsive enough for a lifetime—if I didn’t prove it back then I certainly did tonight.” Priceless! ~MJ -----signature----- E-sib to the utterly adorable and inspiring Jade_eyes!! . . . because Squee!s are better in pairs.
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Star_Angel Registered: Jan '06	Date Posted: 12/27/06 5:33am Subject: RE: The Sadder but Wiser Girl for Me (a L/M story, featuring H/L, Karrde, and Rogues)
	This was a great start, I did laugh a lot and I love that + the plot sounds both interesting and awesome. If you have a pm list then please add me to it, that way I can make sure that I won’t forget something. -----signature----- “It’s not our abilities that shows us what we truly are, it is our choices” – Albus Dumbledor (CoS) <- fanfics/fanart + a funny video in bio SWEDEN HOCKEY forever
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RedGold Registered: Nov '04	Date Posted: 12/27/06 10:03am Subject: RE: The Sadder but Wiser Girl for Me (a L/M story, featuring H/L, Karrde, and Rogues)
	hhhmmm... this looks familier... Hope this means we'll see more of it soon!!! -----signature----- Legend... Recluse... Forgotten... Will one day return... http://www.starwarsfanfic.com
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KELIA Title: The Pretty in Pink Fan Fic Manager Registered: Jul '05	Date Posted: 12/27/06 10:57am Subject: RE: The Sadder but Wiser Girl for Me (a L/M story, featuring H/L, Karrde, and Rogues)
	Ah, poor Luke. Its not bad enough to have bungled things with Mara but now his buddies are trying to help.....somehow I think he'll do better on his own. Nice job on this -----signature----- "Do or do not, there is no try." Master Yoda A Light In The Darkness: http://boards.theforce.net/the_saga/b10476/28150602/p1/?8 NaNaWriMo Progress: 32,105
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ginchy Registered: May '05	Date Posted: 12/27/06 5:19pm Subject: RE: The Sadder but Wiser Girl for Me (a L/M story, featuring H/L, Karrde, and Rogues)
	Good to see this one here! Can't wait to see where it goes. -----signature----- Something wonderful has happened... EDD: April 25, 2010
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Jade_eyes Registered: Aug '04	Date Posted: 12/28/06 3:46am Subject: RE: The Sadder but Wiser Girl for Me (a L/M story, featuring H/L, Karrde, and Rogues)
	Hey!! I'm following this fic here and at SWFF. Do so love it! L/M romance... I thrive on it! Glad to be following this on two sites-- that way, wherever it's updated first, I'll be sure not to miss anything. -----signature----- E-sib to Mira_Jade, whose yummies inspire & gooify !! We Squee! in tandem Our Nyota/Spock love knows no bounds--we have superb taste in soulmates Have a bucket Cheesecake Squggles!
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redtenko Registered: Nov '06	Date Posted: 12/30/06 3:53pm Subject: RE: The Sadder but Wiser Girl for Me (a L/M story, featuring H/L, Karrde, and Rogues)
	Replies Thanks everyone for reading and responding! tasujad- glad you found it funny. Personally, I find it hard for a good Rogue scene not to be funny, those boys are priceless Mira_Jade- YES!! A Music Man fan! I conplement you on your taste Showtunes do kick butt, I doubt this will be the last time I use one. Star_Angel- glad you liked it, will PM for next post! RedGold- haha, yeah, you will see more soon. I've got one scene left to write for chapter 3 then it's up! Just thought I'd post what I have on this board too, that way I can update the story in every place at once. KELIA- What are friends for, if not ego torture? ginchy- the fic would have been up here sooner...if this board wasn't so big it scares the crap out of me. Jade_eyes- Glad this caught your attention! Once I get chapter two on this site, the rest should show up both places about the same time. Thanks for reading! -----signature----- "Luminous beings are we...not this crude matter" ~ Yoda Current fic, The Sadder but Wiser Girl for Me http://boards.theforce.net/beyond_the_saga/b10477/25848196/p1
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redtenko Registered: Nov '06	Date Posted: 12/30/06 4:05pm Subject: RE: The Sadder but Wiser Girl for Me (a L/M story, featuring H/L, Karrde, and Rogues)
	Part Two Luke breathed a sigh of relief as the turbolift began to move. Privacy at last. And quiet. Later, he knew, he’d need a distraction from this hole he’d dug himself into. Then maybe he’d return to his friends. Everyone had already made it clear they weren’t going to let him burry himself in his work again, as he usually did after women troubles…or, after any kind of trouble for that matter. Leia certainly wasn’t going to let him leave Coruscant quietly anyway—she probably had a line of ideas to cheer him up with, and Luke could only hope she’d at least wait until tomorrow to try them. Right now, he needed to be alone. He needed to think…or, not to think. That would probably be best. ‘There is no emotion, there is peace,’ he recited to himself, stepping out of the lift as it opened on his floor. But there wasn’t peace, not within Luke Skywalker. And as for emotions…they were too numerous, too churning to find names for. A series of beeps and warbles greeted Luke as soon as he entered his apartment. “Hi, Artoo,” he said, and the droid detached itself from the charging alcove. Artoo knew his master’s body language, and his sensors told him tonight had not been a good one by human standards. Luke managed a smile at the droid’s sudden, worried twitters. “I’m fine,” he assured his friend. “But could you make sure my calls are held until morning? I’m going to try and meditate.” Artoo’s responding noise sounded a little sarcastic. “Yes, I know how late it is,” Luke said, although he didn’t. Unlike a certain other Jedi, Luke had not been checking his chrono every five seconds. He checked it now, and was surprised to see it was just after midnight. Only four hours since he’d left the party. Four of the longest hours since his near-death trek through the ice planes of Hoth. “I’m just not ready for bed yet, all right?” With an electric snort of acquiescence, Artoo rolled over to the comm station and plugged in. “Thanks,” Luke said, and headed to his bedroom. Once there, he shed his cloak and sat down cross-legged on the carpet beside his bed, facing the window. Taking a deep breath and releasing it slowly, he lifted his eyes to look out at Coruscant’s nighttime view. The city-planet was always awake. Dots of light from speeder headlights rushed by in row on top of row, and hologram advertisements churned colors across the well-lit buildings for miles. Further off were the mountains, signs of life on them not visible from this distance. In the seclusion of his quarters, Luke allowed the contrasting sensations of vibrant activity and calm silence to meld and wash over him. Finally, he felt himself begin to calm. Slowly…very slowly, his emotions detangled, his thoughts unknotted. He felt the Force around him, his awareness of it increasing as the more tremulous thoughts stilled, moving into a sturdier place within his mind. Ordinarily this would be the time to reach out to the Force, to sink onto the presence of life and light around him, becoming one with the pattern of it. That was how a Jedi meditated, but now that he was calm, Luke made no move to immerse himself. Instead, he leaned back against the bed, taking advantage of this moment of peace. Finally he felt ready to look back upon the evening in its entirety. …There’d been a party. A Baron had thrown it for one of the more second-class holidays, only celebrated on planets that thrived on excuses to get dressed up. Blessedly, nothing too fancy was required for this rented ballroom at the base of the old Imperial Palace. All the popular senators had been invited, (as well as some unpopular ones representing planets with a good economy) so Leia had to go, and that meant Han had to go too. But the lack of dress uniforms and the promise of Rogue Squadron’s presence had actually managed to get the ex-smuggler, and even the Jedi Master, to the gathering without a fight. Luke had come from the Academy the day before to see his family. The past few months he’d been feeling more and more agitated, more restless. A couple times he’d hopped into his X-wing or an Academy vessel, and circled the Yavin system on the pretence of maintenance checks, but really just wanting to fly. He knew a Jedi was not supposed to crave excitement or adventure (even if it tended to come with the job), but Luke was starting wish the Force would call him into action. Any action. Surely there was someone on some planet he could assist, or a mission the New Republic could use him for. But the galaxy had been quiet lately. And then it occurred to him—finally, like an obvious ton of rocks—that as long as things were so quiet, now was the perfect time for a vacation. It would be a chance to see his family without some emotional turmoil distracting them, a chance to see his pilot friends without a battle looming over their heads. And maybe he’d get to visit with his other friends too, if they were nearby. Lando might be around, and even Mara… Sitting in his dark room, Luke’s mental replay came to a screeching halt as he realized just how much he had hoped to see Mara Jade on this trip. ‘I should be careful what I wish for,’ he chastised himself with a sardonic chuckle. But he’d wanted to see her. Had wanted it very much…just how much had come as a surprise to everyone. Luke had been thinking about her for a while. Whenever he had the time to let his thoughts drift, he would wonder what his family was up to, then his friends—which would lead him down a line of war buddies and comrades and eventually his mind’s eye would land on Mara. And it would stay on her. He wondered if she was practicing her levitation exercises, or if she’d finally broken down and given meditation a try. He wondered how her job was going. He worried about the way she overworked herself worse than Leia. He wondered if she would ever come back to the Academy—perhaps he should call Karrde and ask him to give her some time off? But no, Mara would hate him butting in. He wondered why she hadn’t tried to complete her training, but more than that, he wondered why he hadn’t asked her about it. Luke realized he was afraid of how honest her answer would be. Mara didn’t lie, not to him. He’d always loved that about her. Loved… Maybe it was back then, that moment weeks and weeks ago when Luke had flown around Yavin’s sun and thought about her… Maybe that was when he realized he loved her, at least subconsciously. At the time, he’d thought it was merely love of an attribute. Her honesty...the best of her many wonderful traits. Other people could be truthful, but not with the scathing and humorous irreverence so unique to Mara. ‘I should have seen this coming,’ Luke realized. His love for the fiery trader had been building long before his unnoticed epiphany. Corran was right; perhaps he did bottle up his emotions. If he hadn’t kept his feelings so confined, maybe things with Mara could have progressed more naturally, rather than exploding the way they had. But he hadn’t expected her to be at the party. He’d entered the ball room and immediately found the X-wing pilots at the bar. He spent the first half of the evening catching up with Wedge and the rest, laughing and even drinking a little. Finally, that restless feeling stilled, if only for a moment. The party was in full swing, and he looked around the ballroom very pleased with the atmosphere. Han was twirling Leia around the dance floor in a very informal set she only pretended to dislike. Wedge and Luke applauded the “argument” from their barstools. “Come on, Your Highnessness, didn’t they teach you dancing in princess school?” “Han, this is not dancing, it’s spinning.” “I’m positive this is the dance you made me learn last Freedom Day,” Han winked down at his partner, and twirled her yet again. “Because I was paying attention to that. I really was.” Leia could not fight her laughter, “Come on—dance normally—I’m dizzy.” “A Jedi knows no nausea,” Han taunted playfully, dipping her and flashing a grin at his brother-in-law. “Right, Luke?” “Hey, leave me out of this,” Luke lifted his glass to them. “You know I can’t dance.” Next to him, Wedge chuckled and took a large sip of his own drink. “You should learn a few steps,” he advised. “The women, they love it for some reason.” “Oh you bet,” Corran Horn chimed in. Then something caught his attention, and he shouted to the group in warning: “Incoming wives!” One after another, the spouses came to collect their partners, pulling them to the dance floor by the hand (or in one case, the ear). Luke found himself left with Wes and Hobbie, confirmed bachelors who’d started a drinking contest with the remainder of Wraith Squadron. It was bittersweet, watching the happy couples glide and crash around the ballroom, not being a part of it. Inspired by Solo, some of the men had made childish partners of themselves, disrupting those dancing normally. They were having a hell of a time with it too, and the combined cheer glowed through the Force, blending wistfully with Luke’s loneliness. “Your sister’s right, Skywalker,” rang a familiar voice, suddenly next to him. “That is not dancing.” Luke chuckled, his mood instantly lighter. “Well, we can’t all be professionals like you, Mara,” he pointed out. Mara Jade favored him with a conspiratorial smirk, then waved to the alien bartender and ordered something in a language Luke didn’t know. “I thought I sensed you on planet,” she said, turning back to him. “What kind of trouble brings the mighty Jedi Master to the Core?” “Vacation,” replied Luke, and eyed her reaction. “Sound the alarm,” she murmured, not missing a beat. The bartender placed a fruity smelling drink in front of her and she took a sip. “I don’t like it when you go on vacation. It’s usually followed by me saving your sorry butt from certain doom.” “It’s not always ‘doom’,” Luke pointed out. “Be fair.” “Mutilation then. I’m surprised you don’t permanently smell of bacta by now.” Luke wrinkled his nose, now wondering if that could really happen. Shaking his head at the thought, he looked out at the dance floor and decided to bring the subject back to it. “You come for the dancing?” he asked. She gave a low laugh. “Hardly. Baron Ye’Wavon’s one of Karrde’s more wealthy clients,” Mara explained. “Karrde had a meeting, but somebody from the organization had to make an appearance so I volunteered.” “You volunteered?” Luke blinked, somehow surprised. Mara picked up on the emption and her eyes narrowed, annoyed with him now. “Sure I did,” she snapped. “I do know how to relax, Skywalker.” “I never said you didn’t,” Luke protested. “Personally, I like relaxing. I always make time for it once or twice a year.” He’d hoped the quip would ease her mood, and he was rewarded with an almost inaudible chuckle she let out with a breath. “Well, it looks as though you picked a good night,” Mara said, her eyes roaming the ballroom appreciatively. Luke didn’t know most of the guests beyond the pilots and a few senators, but she probably did. There were plenty of—to use Leia’s word—scoundrels about, human and alien, and he expected they were traders and smugglers from their host’s circle. They were probably the reason for the relaxed dress code and the casual atmosphere; he expected Baron Ye’Wavon wanted all his connections to be comfortable. Looking back at Mara, he caught the way her eyes restlessly streamed the room. She was probably looking for someone else to talk to, maybe another trader she’d have more in common with. His mood soured considerably, and Luke found himself scrambling for ideas to keep her near. “Want to dance?” he heard himself ask. Red-gold eyebrows arched, apparently amused with the idea. “You can’t dance, remember?” “No,” Luke agreed. “But like you said, that’s not really dancing.” He gestured toward the floor where their friends were swinging without organization. Hobbie and Wes, barely sober enough to stand by now, alternated between dancing with the women they’d found and with each other, not seeming to notice any difference. Mara laughed at the display, but seemed wary of joining in. “I don’t know, Skywalker,” she excused. “It might hurt my reputation as a ‘professional’.” “Now I’m sure that’s impossible,” a deeper voice replied. Luke and Mara looked back to see Lando Calrissian step up to the bar. He’d just arrived, fashionably late as always. “You don’t even know what we’re talking about,” Mara pointed out with a smirk. “I don’t have to,” Lando countered with one of his broad smiles. He grabbed her hand and kissed the knuckles in a notoriously gallant greeting. “I know that Mara Jade is always a professional no matter what she does,” he said. “And she is always lovely.” Luke had to agree. Mara was more than proficient at any task took on, and as for lovely… Well, nobody could fault him for liking her appearance. He wasn’t a superficial man, but he did have eyes. “Yes, yes,” Mara freed her hand and occupied it with her glass. “Can’t you say ‘hello’ like a normal person?” “Sure can,” he returned, and looked past her with a wide grin. “Hello, Luke!” “Hi Lando,” Luke smiled. “I didn’t know you were on Coruscant.” It had been awhile since he’d seen his old friend, and he remembered how he’d hoped they’d both be on planet at the same time. But for some reason he wasn’t thinking about catching up. For some reason Luke was thinking about Jabba’s palace all those years ago, and how Lando had seen Mara dance while he only got to hear about it. “What can I say?” Lando shrugged, still grinning. “You can’t run any kind of lucrative business without stopping by the Capital Planet a few times a year. I try to time my trips for the best get-togethers,” he looked toward Mara again, “you know—increase my chances favorable company.” Mara rolled her eyes. “You boys can keep each other company,” she said, setting her unfinished drink on the counter. “I need something to eat.” With that, she headed towards the table of catered hors d'oeuvres, both men watching her leave. Lando laughed good naturedly, shaking his head. “Some day I’ll figure her out,” he promised. “Haven’t gotten through that armor yet, but I think I’ve found some cracks. Anyway-- Luke, I didn’t expect to see you here, how’ve you been doing?” “Me?” Luke blinked, bringing his eyes back from where Mara had disappeared. “I’m well. I flew in yesterday, kind of overdue for a visit.” Lando nodded. “I’m sure that’s the truth,” he said. He found Mara’s abandoned beverage, but after a sip and a grimace, set it down. “The Solo kids like me, but I’m no substitute for their real uncle.” “They have grown a lot since I last saw them,” Luke nodded solemnly. “I plan to stay on Coruscant for a few weeks, try and spend more quality time with them.” “Great! And you should have plenty of time to hit the town with Han, Chewie and me while you’re here,” he gave Luke a friendly slap on the arm. “But right now, I’ve got to thank our gracious host before he picks a different mine to buy his ore from.” Luke watched him move through the crowd towards a well dressed human standing in a group of Rodians. He knew he probably should have gone with Lando; he hadn’t yet thanked Ye’Wavon for extending Leia’s invitation to include him. Instead, he found himself heading for the buffet tables, hungry for conversation with his red-headed friend. He didn’t notice the crowd on the dance floor was thinner. His family and friends had worked up an appetite, and weren’t far behind him in his trek towards the food. Luke spotted Mara immediately, her loose braid of red-gold hair standing out almost as much as her shining Force presence did. She was sampling some toothpicked purple shrimp from New Alderaan as he sidled next to her. “Lando’s got his eye on you, you know,” he said, and immediately wondered why he’d opened with that. Mara blinked, surprised to see him first, then surprised at his greeting. “I know,” she replied. “He’s not subtle about it.” “So, what do you think about him?” Luke asked. Again, as soon as the words came out he questioned his own sanity. Why was he asking about this? It was none of his business. Well, mostly not his business. They were both his friends, after all. “What do you mean ‘what do I think’?” Mara glared, fuming openly. “How is that your business—what, are you his wingman now?” Luke’s suddenly rattled brain worked to translate the piloting phrase into dating terminology. “Did he send you over to ask me that?” “No!” Luke found his voice. “I was just concerned, that’s all.” “Concerned?” Mara squinted at him. Her growing confusion was palpable in the Force, and Luke knew that Mara Jade did not like to be confused. This could easily get worse, and quickly. “Curious,” Luke amended. “I was curious. I mean, if you two were to start dating, I’d want to know is all…” ‘That’s right, Skywalker, keep digging your own grave’. Eyeing him dubiously, Mara grabbed a last shrimp and stepped away from the tables, determined to move the conversation. Looking back on it Luke realized that unlike him, she had noticed the growing crowd of familiar faces: Han, Leia, most of Rogue Squadron and their wives…the whole lot of them pretending they weren’t listening. “What in blazes are you so interested for?” she snarled as she walked a few paces. Luke opened his mouth to reply that he was interested in all his friend’s lives, but he couldn’t say it. She would sense his fixation on this particular situation right away. She already had. Suddenly, Mara gave a heavy sigh, and her face softened slightly. “Poor Skywalker,” she shook her head at the way his jaw was moving without sound. “You’ve got your foot in your mouth again, why don’t we just change the subject.” He knew what she was pulling right away. His sporadic dive for information on her social life had set her off balance, and she didn’t like it. Mara had attempted a joke, then dangled a way out of the conversation in front of his nose, hoping he’d take it. But while she tried to make the mood light, Luke could sense the bewilderment quilting her mind when it reached in his direction. He couldn’t do it. As smart as it would have been to just take her offer, he simply could not leave the conversation without making his thoughts perfectly clear. “I’m concerned he couldn’t keep up with you, not all of you,” Luke explained in a rush. If his attention had been more on the Force than his out-of-control mouth, he might have sensed his friend’s inching closer to the two of them. He barreled on: “You and Lando have your business sense in common, but you’re not just a trader. You aren’t in business just for yourself; you’re loyal to Karrde, selfless in a lot of ways. Not to mention you’re Force sensitive, and I’m not sure how much he understands what that means.” The others weren’t even pretending not to listen anymore. Luke finally caught on as he spotted Leia and Han whispering in his peripheral vision. Still, he didn’t stop. “You already know I’d like you to be a Jedi, but that’s because I think it’s your path. I might be wrong. I don’t feel like I’m wrong, but okay, I might be.” He knew he wasn’t. “I just think you should be with someone who can appreciate where your life may be headed. Who is able to share that, or understand it at least.” “It sounds as if you want to date me, Skywalker,” Mara smirked weakly, taking a bite of purple shrimp just as Luke blurted “I do!” Luke’s eyes had nearly popped out as he realized what he had said. What he’d said out loud no less, and in front of everyone. But it wasn’t just what he’d said—that was one thing, however the emotion behind it brought this all-too-public display to another level. Because in that moment, his shields had been down, his heart broadcasting loudly. He’d spoken his feelings at the moment he felt them. And it had been at that moment when Luke realized (along with every other Force sensitive in the room) that he loved Mara. He was in love with her…and the feelings weren’t sudden. They weren’t new—they were solid, grounded, and very much there. And she knew. In the few, horrifyingly long seconds of shocked silence that followed, Luke was vaguely aware of dropped jaws. He was very aware of the surprise that radiated from his audience, flowing strong from some and little from others. It flowed strongest from Mara herself, drowning out any other reaction he could have sensed. He had to wait for her to react, but the pause stretched on from one eternal microsecond to the next. She stared at him, eyes wide, nothing but astonishment on her face. Suddenly someone broke the silence in the least of expected ways. “Did you just swallow that toothpick?” Mirax Horn gaped. Mara jolted at the sudden noise, every part of her body stiff. “Ah…what?” she managed, seeming to only have a hazy awareness of her surroundings. The silence began filling with murmurs of concern. “The toothpick that shrimp was on,” Mirax said, taking a step forward. Mara blinked rapidly, finally moving her eyes off Luke (who hadn’t come up with anything to say) and stared dumbly at her now empty hands. “I…I don’t…” “I’m pretty sure you did, Mara,” Winter Celchu said from the periphery of the loose circle that had formed. Mara stared at her with slow comprehension. She knew that with Winter’s perfect memory, there were no ‘pretty sure’s, just facts. “I…” Mara tried again, clearly frustrated. She’d never been at a loss for words before. Mirax, unable watch a moment longer, bolted forward and grabbed Mara’s arm. “That wood was laminated. You gotta go to the medcenter, come on,” she said, quickly steering the stunned trader towards the door. As they left, Mirax looked over her shoulder and pinned her husband with a glare that plainly said: “Fix this”. Iella Antilles more than agreed with her friend’s tactic. She sent Wedge a matching look. “I’m coming too,” she called, and rushed after them, reaching Mara’s other arm just before the three disappeared from the ballroom. Luke knew he should run after her—right away, before her head caught up with her limbs and she began punching. Unfortunately his own limbs had frozen… …In the quiet of his bedroom, Luke roused himself from the memory, afraid of the emotional weight that was settling down once again. Whatever sense of calm he’d managed to achieve not long ago was gone. Blasted away by fresh worry. He’d really done it this time. Putting her on the spot like that, dragging her personal life into the public after she’d fought so hard for the privacy to just live as she wanted… The others were right, she’d probably blast off planet as soon as she got the chance if she hadn’t all ready. And when they met again—in months, years even—then what? Things wouldn’t be the same between them. After all these years of working, building such a unique friendship so important to him… Luke’s heart clenched. He might loose her. Drawing in a deep breath, Luke let it out harshly, determination forming. He had to do something—what? he had no idea. Reaching out, Luke dove head first into the pattern of the Force. He completed the circuit this time, willing the calm to return as he fell completely into a trance. He could only hope the Force would show him how to reach her and fix this mess he’d made. -- End of part 2 -----signature----- "Luminous beings are we...not this crude matter" ~ Yoda Current fic, The Sadder but Wiser Girl for Me http://boards.theforce.net/beyond_the_saga/b10477/25848196/p1
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RedGold Registered: Nov '04	Date Posted: 12/30/06 4:59pm Subject: RE: The Sadder but Wiser Girl for Me (a L/M story, featuring H/L, Karrde, and Rogues) updated 12/30
	That's just as fun the second time around! -----signature----- Legend... Recluse... Forgotten... Will one day return... http://www.starwarsfanfic.com
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academygrad88 Registered: Apr '04	Date Posted: 12/30/06 6:32pm Subject: RE: The Sadder but Wiser Girl for Me (a L/M story, featuring H/L, Karrde, and Rogues) updated 12/30
	Great update!! AG88 -----signature----- I love my Bomb Disposal Expert Winner of more Golden Ewoks™ than you can possibly imagine! Check out the pictures I made: http://ag88.deviantart.com/ ! You will Kriff Luke Skywalker!~ The Real last Command http://swff.bpweb.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4
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Blue_Milkshake Registered: Nov '05	Date Posted: 12/30/06 8:45pm Subject: RE: The Sadder but Wiser Girl for Me (a L/M story, featuring H/L, Karrde, and Rogues) updated 12/30
	I'm loving this! I really like your voice. The words just flow so smoothly and the images and emotions they inspire are vivid. Can't wait for more! -----signature----- Not all chemicals are bad. Without chemicals such as hydrogen and oxygen, for example, there would be no way to make water, a vital ingredient in beer. --Dave Barry
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Star_Angel Registered: Jan '06	Date Posted: 12/31/06 7:36am Subject: RE: The Sadder but Wiser Girl for Me (a L/M story, featuring H/L, Karrde, and Rogues) updated 12/30
	This was amazing, I loved it. I feel sorry for Luke. And I hope that Mara is alright. Thanks for the pm and I’m looking forward to read more. -----signature----- “It’s not our abilities that shows us what we truly are, it is our choices” – Albus Dumbledor (CoS) <- fanfics/fanart + a funny video in bio SWEDEN HOCKEY forever
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Jade_Pilot Registered: Dec '05	Date Posted: 12/31/06 4:31pm Subject: RE: The Sadder but Wiser Girl for Me (a L/M story, featuring H/L, Karrde, and Rogues) updated 12/30
	I love this story! If you have a PM list would you please add me to it? LOL Moment: "I’m sure Mirax will call if Jade decides to renew her vow to kill Luke,” he assured the group." Bravo!!! -----signature----- I'm so adjective I verb noun.
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verybusy Registered: Sep '06	Date Posted: 1/1/07 4:14am Subject: RE: The Sadder but Wiser Girl for Me (a L/M story, featuring H/L, Karrde, and Rogues) updated 12/30
	Great story! I'm really curious how you let them work this out. cheers, VeryBusy -----signature----- Proud Padawan of VaderLVR64 ~Arts-and-Crafts~ 11/6 - http://boards.theforce.net/beyond_the_saga/b10477/26899638/p1/?0 ~Reality~ 06/25 http://boards.theforce.net/beyond_the_saga/b10477/26989016/p1/?20
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