A/N: Again another EPB that came to my brain when driving to work. Enjoy! This will be multiple chapters.

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Mara stepped out onto the cobblestone landing pad and issued a breath of wonder. "Oh, Luke, it's beautiful."

She looked out over the picturesque scenery; the rolling, verdant hills, the crystal lakes, and the imposing elegant structures surrounding them.

"Leia always did say this planet reminded her of Alderaan. I can see why."

"It's gorgeous." She turned to face him and took his face in between her hands. "This is a wonderful place for a honeymoon."

He grinned. "I'm glad you like it. Not to mention while we're here, we'll be sure to get five-star accommodations and all the peace and quiet we need."

"Ah, yes, your connections with the Hapans. I would never have thought Luke Skywalker would actually use his connections." She pouted, but took his hand in hers. "But since you did such a wonderful job, I see no problem with it."
She looked around a bit. "No welcoming party?" Mara announced with a side-long glance to her husband.

Luke frowned. "Should be one." He checked his chrono.

"Luke!" A flavorful male voice called out.

He raised his head, locking eyes with the Chume'da, Prince Isolder. He smiled and called back, "Isolder!"

The Hapan prince approached them and clasped Luke's hand warmly. "It's good to see you, my friend."

"Good to see you too, Isolder." He looked around. "I would never have thought you would come here personally to meet us though."

"Well, for Luke Skywalker," He gave a dashing smile. "I thought it was only appropriate. You are the reason I have my lovely wife, Teneniel."

Mara arched a brow. "Doesn't that credit go to Solo?"

"Only a third."

Luke laughed.

"Glad to see you've loosened up quite a bit." Isolder complimented. "I remember you when you were still so stoic."

"Marriage is doing well for him." Mara said, patting Luke's hand. "Only a week too."

"Well, then I'm sure you'll be able to enjoy Hapes to the fullest." Isolder gave Mara a long look of appraisal. "And let me say my friend, your taste in women is still extraordinary. I was saddened by the fact that I was not able to attend your wedding." He shrugged his shoulder elegantly. "But that is the life of a Hapan heir."

"Yes, it was unfornatute that you couldn't." Luke agreed.

"Very. I would have liked to meet your intended much sooner. It seems our paths always tended to not cross." He looked back to Mara. "I have not been off Hapes quite enough."

"Well, I wasn't usually in what you would call Republic circles." Mara said, waving the Prince's apology off.

"Yes.." He looked back, watching Astarta pull up in a luxurious looking speeder. "Please," He gestured toward the vehicle. "I'm sure you would like to retire to your suite. We can, perhaps, continue this conversation later—at dinner if you are amendable."

"Of course. I haven't seen Teneniel in awhile." Luke bent down to retrieve his bag, and then attempted to do the same for Mara's.

"I can handle it, Luke." She picked up her bag. "I'm a big girl."

He sighed, accepting it. This was after all the woman he had chosen—and he loved her for it. She was willful and proud, but also strong and bold. Mara was an amazing woman that he absolutely adored.

He caught his wife's eye. Mara smirked. "C'mon, Farmboy, let's get a move on. I don't feel like getting baked."

He flashed her a smile. "Right…After you."

Mara climbed into the speeder, hopping nimbly and seated herself quickly. She cast her husband a fleeting glance and caught a blush tingeing his cheeks, a small grin gracing his lips. She arched a brow. Naughty, naughty Jedi. She admonished. Not till later.

Luke cleared his throat and climbed in after his wife, Isolder taking his place in the passenger seat next to Astarta.

"Master Jedi." Astarta acknowledge briefly, turning her head over her shoulder slightly. "Madam Skywalker."

Luke nodded back. He was amazed that the woman had even acknowledged him. He had met Astarta years ago, but never before had she gone out of her way to make conversation with him. No Hapan woman ever had; he supposed it had to do with their mindset—the idea that males were far below the intellectual equal of women on Hapes.

Turning forward, she started up the speeder, heading for the palace.

Mara leaned in. "Chatty, isn't she?" His wife whispered.

Mara…Be nice.

I'm always nice, Skywalker.

If that's your attempt at nice, I'd hate to see what naughty is.

Care for a demonstration. She ran her hand surreptitiously along his thigh.

Mara!

Spoilsport.

Faintly, he could hear the prince trying to make conversation, unfortunately for him the two were lost in their own world.

"Luke?" Isolder looked back. "Are you still with us?"

He stifled the urge to blush. "Uh, yes, sorry…"

"No need to apologize. I'm sure you have other things on your mind."

Had he heard that right? Luke wondered. Had Isolder covertly insinuated he was having thoughts of the more sexual nature. Surely, not. He must've misheard the prince. He cast a glance at Mara. Though Isolder wouldn't have been far off, his wife was a captivating woman and it would have been hard not to be having those kinds of thoughts. This was their honeymoon after all.

All the sudden, he had the urge to unbutton the top button of his collar. He was feeling quite hot—and was it sure wasn't the sun.

Mara smirked.

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Thirty minutes later, the speeder pulled up to a quaint little bungalow. Well, little was an understatement. Even this guest house was large in comparison—after all nothing could be done subpar on Hapes.

The guest house was done in the traditional style of many of the structures on Hapes. It abutted a nearby lake that was situated on the palace grounds. Luke had expected nice accommodations, but for the prince to risk his mother's wrath by placing them so close to her seat of power, well Luke was quite startled.

"Don't worry about my mother." Isolder assured him. "You are my friend, and I shall do what I please when it comes to my friends." He got out of the speeder. "Since Teneniel and I could not make it to your wedding, please look upon this as a wedding gift."

"Thank you, Your Highness." Mara said, climbing out.

"It was my pleasure—and please, call me Isolder." Another smile.

"All right. Isolder it is."

Her husband stepped to her side and extended a hand. "Thank you, once again."

"Think nothing of it…" He beckoned. "Come…" Isolder turned his head over his shoulder. "Astarta, I believe you have the keycard."

"I do, my Lord." She responded and walked briskly to the cottage, extracting a keycard from her belt-pouch. She mounted the three steps before the doorway and approached the door, sliding the keycard into the sensor.

"Madam Skywalker." She turned to face Mara. "Would you please approach the door; you hand print is required."

Mara looked around. "Just mine?"

"Or your husband's." She handed her the card. "With this and the print recognition, you'll be able to gain access to the guest house."

"Seems extreme." Mara said, feeling Luke getting closer. "What about others? Like servants or whoever you get to take care of this joint."

Astarta gazed at Mara. "They will also have access, but different system is set up for servants. They will only come around when you require them."

"All right…" She stared at the palmpad then said, "Wait a minute, how did you get our prints."

"I can answer that," Isolder spoke up. "I requested them from the New Republic databases. I outlined the purpose of them, though they were a bit reluctant."

"No doubt, that's Fey'la's doing." Mara muttered.

"Mara…"

"I believe it was Leia who made it possible."

Mara and Luke exchanged glances. She shrugged. "Let's do this." She walked up to the door and put her hand on the pad. She watched as the scanner ran over it, a green light illuminating at the top to signal the success. The large door made a whoosing sound as it slid open.

Luke stepped up to the door, poking his head in to get a look at the living-quarters.

"If you do not require anything else, we should be going." The Hapan woman turned toward the prince. "You have a late afternoon appointment Chume'da."

"Of course." He said, and then turned to Luke and Mara. "Once again, please make yourselves comfortable. Consider my staff at your disposal during your time here." Isolder clasped Luke's hand one more time then turned to Mara and gave the back of her hand a brief kiss.

With anyone else, Luke might have been jealous, but this was Isolder. He knew the prince was just being courteous to Mara in his own way.

Mara extracted her hand from his, the whites off her top teeth showing. It wasn't an affronted look, but more one of amusement.

Astarta gave them a quick nod before she and Isolder made their way back to the speeder.

"Well, that was…interesting." Mara commented. She'd heard a lot about Hapes and had read much intel on it during her days with the Empire, but experiencing it personally was quite different.

Her husband raised an eyebrow. "He's a good man." He gestured with his head. "Come on, let's get situated."

She hauled her bag over her shoulder—she packed extremely light. "Yeah, let's get out of these clothes and into a cold shower. I'm baked."

Luke smiled.

"Get your mind out of the trashpile, Skywalker…"

"Well, that's a first…you usually don't like me in your head." He commented and followed her inside.

She rolled her eyes.

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A/N: And that's chapter one…