Jedi Hearts

Chapter Five
Divided Loyalties Invite Disaster


Obi-Wan and Melody entered the ship’s galley to find Qui-Gon already eating last meal. “Padawan Jinn, I didn’t know you could cook,” Melody commented.

“Qui-Gon doesn’t cook unless he has no other recourse. Like his Master, he has never had much success in the kitchen. Everything he makes comes out blackened.” Obi-Wan said ribbing his apprentice. And this didn’t change the second time around either.

“Actually your Padawan made it. She left a data pad here on the table for you,” Qui-Gon told Melody, pointing to the opposite side of the table. “This is really good and Master Obi-Wan, at least I’ve tried to make something other than mush.”

Obi-Wan looked at Melody and winked. “Padawan, I have been informed mush too has its place.”

Melody smiled at Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon as she picked up the data pad and began to read its contents. I doubt she really ate any of it. She placed the data pad back down on the table and walked to the cupboard where she took down two plates and began to fill them with the meal.

Obi-Wan tried to find the right words to tell his Padawan that he would be sharing Ember’s quarters for the duration of the trip. Maybe Qui-Gon can talk her into staying in the order. He watched his Padawan yawn and noted the slumped shoulders and that Ember was not there. “Did you enjoy your free day? What did you do?”

“I went for a long walk on the eastern side of the lake. I enjoyed the walk, Master. I found a youngling bird that had fallen to the ground. I healed it and returned it to the nest. I also saw a field near the lake that has hundreds of beautiful flowers in just about every color imaginable.”

Obi-Wan nodded, chewed a bite of food and swallowed before speaking. “It sounds like an interesting day. Ember’s strength is the living Force so I imagine she enjoyed it also.”

“She wasn’t with me Master, but I’m sure she would’ve enjoyed it. Actually I picked some flowers and brought them back for her,” Qui-Gon explained as he took a bite of food.

“That was very thoughtful of you Padawan Jinn,” Melody said. He either messed up or is trying to give her flowers to thank her for what happened this morning. I wonder if Qui-Gon really cares about Ember, she thought remembering when her former Master had told her about the flowers that Obi-Wan had given her when she was injured. She remembered her Master telling her how worried he had been. She had kept the flowers, but for years she thought his concern for her and any attention that he gave her was because of the rape when she was thirteen.

“I am glad to see that the two of you are finally getting along. It’ll make what I’m about to say easier. Qui-Gon for the duration of this mission I want you to move your possessions into the room Melody is sharing with her Padawan,” Obi-Wan said sitting back and watching Qui-Gon intently.

Qui-Gon sipped his juice as his master informed him that he would have to share a room with Ember for the duration of the trip. He began coughing to cover his dismay and spit the contents of the cup out of his mouth and all over the table. Unfortunately Melody was sitting across the table from him and received a shower of the sticky liquid. She quickly stood up and calmly walked to the sink to get a towel her expression betraying none of her thoughts at the mishap.

Obi-Wan watched his Padawan flush and cough again and he wondered why the boy suddenly looked uneasy. Concerned he asked, “Padawan are you ok?”

“I’m not sure,” Qui-Gon coughed again. “Did… you just say that I have to um… stay in the room with Ember?”

“Is there a problem with that Qui-Gon?” Obi-Wan said leveling his eyes at the squirming apprentice.

“Do you know that she’s a girl?” Qui-Gon blushed as he realized how stupid his question sounded. “I mean I thought it was not permitted for male and female padawans to share quarters if there is enough room on the vessel.”

Melody ducked her head to hide a smile. She assumed an argument was the most likely reason Ember was not here and also the reason Qui-Gon had picked flowers for her. She had thought that he would be very happy to learn of the new sleeping arrangements. Unless he is worried that he can’t keep his hands off her if they share quarters.

“Qui-Gon” Obi-Wan sighed. “Let me guess, the two of you still can not get along. I thought that after ‘swimming’ together this morning you had put aside your differences. You will share a room because Melody and I are sharing a room.”

Arrg Melody thought looking at the Padawan that had suddenly become very red in the face; I’m glad he didn’t have any food or drink in his mouth this time. Obi-Wan’s comment would surely cause him to send food spraying.

“Yes Master,” Qui-Gon said trying to keep the shock from showing on his face. If he wants me to share a room with Ember he obviously doesn’t know what happened at the lake besides swimming.

Obi-Wan nodded, “Thank you Padawan.” {If I remember correctly, imp it was you who wanted to get us together.} He placed the last bite in his mouth and finished chewing. “Why don’t you move your things after you finish eating so Melody can use the fresher to clean up?”

“Yes Master, I’m sorry Master Melody,” Qui-Gon said trying to quickly eat the remainder of his food so that he could leave the galley before anything ewentwent wrong.

I hope Ember doesn’t accept his apology and flowers. I’m sure it’s just a ploy to get her to have sex with him again, Melody thought.

I’m making a mistake with this. I just know it. Qui-Gon believes I have no idea of what went on at the lake. But now that he has become involved with someone on a mission… I need to know that he can handle both the danger and the relationship. Besides, I don’t want Mel to know what her Padawan was doing this morning. Obi-Wan thought.

Qui-Gon swallowed the last bite of his food and asked, “Master may I be excused?”

“Yes Qui-Gon, wash your plate before you go,” Obi-Wan said as his apprentice walked to the sink. I see he healed the bruise on his neck.

“Thank you Master,” Qui-Gon said and he hurriedly washed his dishes and escaped from the galley. I wonder what Ember will think when she finds out that we have to share a room. Maybe I should just take a blanket and sleep in the cargo bay. If I’m up before Master Obi-Wan or Melody then they’ll never know that I didn’t sleep in Ember’s room. Qui-Gon walked to his quarters to retrieve his things and move them to Ember’s room. Taking the flowers he had earlier placed in an old cup he set them on the table next to Ember’s sleep couch. Putting his bag on the floor near the bed where he was supposed to sleep; he searched through its contents for an empty data pad so he could lea noa note for Ember.

Finding a data pad, Qui-Gon typed: Ember, I’m very sorry for the way that I treated you after breakfast. I was wrong to take my frustrations out on you. If you don’t want this morning to mean anymore than what it was, that’s your choice. I was upset because I wanted us to have a relationship based on more than just sex. I realized when I went for a walk in the forest, that I would rather have a friendship than not to have any kind of relationship with you at all. I picked some flowers for you on the way back from my walk and I hope you accept them with my sincere apologies. Master Obi-Wan told me we’ll have to share your quarters for the remainder of the mission. I left my bag in your quarters but I don’t want you to feel uncomfortable with me sleeping so close. So after my Master goes to sleep, I’ll go to the cargo bay to sleep. I really hope that we can still be friends. Qui-Gon Jinn

Obi-Wan grinned at Melody. “I didn’t think it would be that hard to convince him. He is a teenage boy after all.”

“Perhaps your Padawan is a little shy around females,” Melody said reaching across the table to remove her dishes. Although, everyone except you knows that’s not true.

“Or maybe your Padawan scares him,” Obi-Wan smirked.

“If I were her I’d be more afraid of your Padawan,” Melody commented and then bit her lip as she realized that she had spoken aloud.

Obi-Wan tilted his head and looked at her, confusion evident on his face, “What did you mean by that Mel?”

“You know, he’s a teenaged boy,” Melody replied hoping that he would believe that’s what she was really thinking.

“But that wasn’t what you were talking about was it?” Obi-Wan asked insistently.

“Honestly no,” Melody admitted turning away from the dishes in the sink to look up into Obi-Wan’s blue/green eyes. “Obi-Wan, our Padawans were not only swimming in the lake this morning. I didn’t want to tell you because I didn’t think it was my place, but I won’t lie to you either.”

Obi-Wan chuckled and shook his head, “Yes I know. I saw his neck this afternoon. Why do you think I panicked? There is no way they could go swimming with Ember wearing no clothes and something not happen. Besides he has been moody since he caught her in the shower yesterday.”

“He did what?” Melody asked, “Ember didn’t say anything about that.”

“I had told him to apologize to her and in his er…enthusiasm to do what I said he walked in on her.” Obi-Wan said.

"I wonder why Ember didn’t tell me about it," Melody said.

Obi-Wan looked up at Melody and grinned, “I wonder why.” He stood up, walked over the sink, pulled her into his arms, and kissed the side of her neck.

“Obi-Wan can’t you wait until we go to bed?” Melody smiled.

“I can …if you want me to. …Or we can go to bed now,” Obi-Wan said hopefully releasing Melody.

Melody giggled he has a one-track mind; I can see where his Padawan gets it. “Let me finish up these dishes and then I’ll join you in our quarters after I finish moving my things.”

He kissed the side of her neck and smiled. “I have a paper that I need to read for one of Qui-Gon’s classes. Where is your Padawan, Mel? I would have thought that she would be here.”

“She went for a walk on the south side of the transport and then she planned on practicing her forms before bed,” Melody told him as she finished the last few dishes.

“Oh, then I can close the shuttle door so we’re not invaded by any of Qui-Gon’s pathetic life forms,” Obi-wan commented. “Does Ember drag home stray creatures as well?”

“She did until I created a place for Ember to keep her pathetic life forms, as you call them. She calls it her Sanctuary,” Melody smiled.

“Maybe I should have thought of that. Our living quarters wouldn’t be overrun with them. I swear, it’s a wonder he isn’t side tracked from his duties by all of the strays he picks up and brings home,” Obi-Wan said chuckling as he turned back to reading Qui-Gon’s paper.

Since our Padawans are getting along so well, maybe they won't mind sharing the sanctuary," Melody suggested sarcastically.

Obi-Wan looked up from the data pad he was reading when he noted the change in Melody’s voice. “Why don’t you like my Padawan, Mel?”

Melody looked up into Obi-Wan's eyes and sighed, "Obi-Wan I didn't want to have to tell you this but there are a lot of rumors about your Padawan. I have heard other Padawans bragging about some of them. I received confirmation by the person involved. It’s not your Padawan’s Jedi abilities I question. I'm sure he’s a great Padawan for you, but I'm just not sure that he should spend so much time with my Padawan. I don't want her to get hurt."

“Mel, Qui-Gon would never hurt Ember intentionally and she is certainly not innocent in that department …she deliberately went swimming without her clothes. I believe this morning was a case of teenage hormones and a mutual release of emotion. Do you want me to separate them? Obi-Wan asked hesitantly.

"Obi-Wan," Melody said, her eyes turning a darker shade of lavender as she stared at him. "Apparently I know my Padawan a lot better than you know yours. And while I admit that your Padawan was not her first, he was however, only her second. I can assure you her first experience was not as enjoyable as your Padawan’s. Ember told me everything that happened that night. Can you say the same for Qui-Gon? For a person who’s alleged to be so uptight, you sure as Sith have no clue how your Padawan acts when you’re not with him!" Melody yelled clenching her hands into fists at her sides.

Obi-Wan stood up, walked over to Melody, and quietly said, “I think that we should take this outside. Your shouting is not conducive to training them properly and we do not need to discuss in front of them”

“Fine, we can go outside," Melody began in a quieter tone. "But let me get this straight Master Kenobi, first of all my Padawan went for a walk and is somewhere outside. I believe in communicating with my Padawan, you obviously withhold information from yours. So to protect your perfect Padawan we can take this discussion outside. You’re absely ely right. It’s a good idea to keep our Padawans in separate quarters," she told him stomping out of the galley toward the exit.

“Maybe if you kept a few more things from her she wouldn’t need so much guidance and discipline from the Council. The two of you have to make an appearance in chambers at least once a week,” Obi-Wan replied hotly.

"You are unbelievable. By Jedi standards your Padawan could stand in front of the Council many more times than Ember. During the past three years he has had sex under your nose so often he could have fathered dozens of children throughout the galaxy. So don't even speak to me about Ember getting in trouble," Melody fumed as she marched out of the transport.

Obi-Wan reached out and stopped Melody before they descended the shuttle ramp completely. “Melody, I have heard the rumors. I know that they’re not true, and I can guarantee if he’s had as much sex as the rumors say; he’s not fathering dozens of little ones because he’s not able to have children. Have you talked to her to find out how she feels about Qui-Gon?”

"Yes, she assured me that it was just a moment of desire, nothing more. But I know Ember does not have sex if there isn’t some feelings for the man, especially after what happened the last time," Melody said in a somewhat calmer voice. Her eyes were darker than their normal color and her hands were still clenched into fists making her already pale knuckles turn white.

“The truth is Melody, your Padawan is eighteen and if she and Qui-Gon decide they want to become intimate then as their Masters we have two choices. One let them figure it out on their own. If it is just desire, it will go away and no one will be hurt, or we could find out that it is real. Neither of them is ready for that option. Obi-Wan ran a hand through his hair and stared off toward the forest. “Our second option is forbid them any time alone with each other for the remainder of the trip.”

"Obi-Wan," Melody sighed finally releasing her anger through the Force, "You know as well as I do that we can not forbid my Padawan to be with yours, because that will only push her toward him even more."

Obi-Wan took Melody’s hand in his and replied, “Your understanding of the situation is more logical than mine. I agree that forbidding them to see each other would cause more problems. Look Mel, I’m sorry I didn’t mean the things I said. The way you train your Padawan is your decision and I have no right interfere. I’m sure that Ember and Qui-Gon will do what’s right for them.”

"I'm sorry too Obi, but after what happened to her, I just want to protect her. I’m really sorry for what I said. I have no right to criticize the way you train your Padawan," Melody said softly as she squeezed his hand in hers. "Now how about we go back inside so that I can get my things and bring them into our quarters."

Obi-Wan pulled her into his arms, kissed her hair, and sighed, “Ok that will give me just enough time to read Qui-Gon’s paper. Mel lets not keep things from each other to the point we become angry when we do discuss it.”

Melody walked into the quarters that Qui-Gon would now share with her Padawan and found him in the fresher. Melody grabbed her small bag of clothes and the necessities that she had not yet unpacked and started to walk back out of the small room. She noticed the flowers on an end table beside Ember's sleep couch and a data pad resting on the pillow. Allowing her curiosity to get the better of her she picked up the data pad. She quickly read its contents and was surprised to learn that Qui-Gon had wanted what had happened between them to mean more than what Ember had thought it meant. Melody almost felt sorry for him and hoped her Padawan would not let him sleep in the cold cargo bay. I guess if he’s still there after Obi-Wan falls asleep, I'll go and tell him to return to his quarters and sleep on the couch. Putting the data pad back on the pillow, Melody walked out of the room and across the hall to where Obi-Wan was already waiting for her.

Obi-Wan looked up as Melody walked into the room and smiled. He put the data pad down and watched her as she moved around the room. He enjoyed watching the way she moved and how the paleness of her skin blended with the deep burgundy of her hair. I wonder why it took me so long to see it… no to say it. I faced a Sith Lord with more courage. “Mel I wanted to say thank you again for the support you gave me after Master Sifo Dyas died.”

Melody stopped what she was doing and turned to look at Obi-Wan who was lying on the sleep couch watching her, Qui-Gon's data pad still in his hands. I wonder what brought that on. “You're my friend, well more than that now, and that's what friends do. You don’t need to thank me. I know if I lost Master Garaar you would have offered me all the support that you could.”

“Mel I felt myself falling into a hole and I couldn’t get out. It was you who came in every morning and bullied me into continuing to live. It’s part of the reason I think I love you,” Obi-Wan said as he put the data pad on the table by the bed.

"You…. Love me? I knew you cared and had feelings but…" Melody broke off and smiled at him, deciding to finish what she was doing in the morning. She walked over to the sleep couch, knelt beside Obi-Wan. Looking him straight in the eyes she said, "I love you too," and kissed him.

Obi-Wan pulled away, tucked a strand of her hair behind Melody’s ear, and leaned his forehead against hers. “I’m sorry that I didn’t have the courage to tell you sooner.”

"It's ok, at least we finally told each other how we felt before it was too late," Melody told him.

Holding her close to his body, Obi-Wan took her hand and pressed her palm to his lips and kissed it. “Melody, I’m sorry it took me so long to admit to my feelings for you. Now how about we go and explore the depth of our attraction and while we’re at it we can wash the juice off you that Qui-Gon couldn’t keep in his mouth.

"MMM and I can help you wash too," Melody smiled. Her eyes once again a normal shade of violet, sparkled as she looked into his blue/green ones. Melody arose, took Obi-Wan's hand and led him into the fresher. With an evil looking smile, she ordered him, "Take off your clothes."

“And why would I want to do that?” Obi-Wan asked mischievously raising an eyebrow and crossing his arms over his chest as he leaned against the fresher wall.

"Well, you could just stand there and watch," Melody said as she took off her clothes. "But I would assume that you would much rather participate and I'm sure you would be much more comfortable without your clothing in the way," she smiled as she provocatively entered the shower and turned the water on.

“Yes mistress,” Obi-Wan leered slowly removing his tunics as well. Stepping into the hot spray, he pulled Melody close and began kiss her deeply.

"Mistress huh?" Melody kissed him back, lowering her hands from around his waist to squeeze his bottom.

"Soap?" Obi-Wan requested playfully.

Using the Force, Melody levitated the soap to her hand and said, "Here it is. Do you want it or would you rather that I washed you first?" Melody asked.

Shaking his head no, Obi-Wan began to lather the soap in his hands and apply it to Melody’s wet skin. Stroking the pale glistening breast, he felt the tip harden under his thumbs. Obi-Wan’s lips consumed her neck and then slid eagerly to her breasts. He suckled on her breasts and nipples where his soapy hands had gently roamed earlier. He was intoxicated by the smell of her body, the texture of her skin. Melody groaned as Obi-Wan pulled her nipples between his lips and grated his teeth ever so gently along her areola and her nipple. Tremors racked her body.

Melody didn't think that his touch could feel better than it had last night, but she was wrong. She sighed as he continued to wash her body with the soapy lather, taking extra care to make sure he didn't miss any part of her. Bending down onto his knees, Obi-Wan began to caress the soap over her calves, knees, thighs, her beautifully round buttocks, her flat stomach, and then finally he slowly began to wash the bare flesh between her ivory thighs. Applying a gentle pressure to the burgundy curls that he found there, he smiled at the reaction that his ministrations caused in her. She rinsed off the soap that he had applied all over her skin. He remained on his knees and began to caress the lavender curls with his soap free finger reveling in the tremors of pleasure that he was causing to soar through her entire body. Melody threw her head back and gasped as his finger entered her. "Obi-Wan, Ohhhh," she gasped, as he removed his finger from her and replaced it with his mouth.

She groaned loudly as his thrusting tongue parted her moist lips. Her hips slowly began to sway rhythmically into him. He grabbed her by the hips and dug deeper into her. Melody in turn grabbed the back of Obi-Wan’s head and thrust his head deeper and harder into her. Water splashed down over them as Obi-Wan licked and thrust his tongue into her, deeply, rhythmically. Faster and faster Melody’s body moved. Her breathing grew louder and more labored, her thrusting, more urgent. Her hair, wet and matted now, streaked her face but she was oblivious. Her eyes were tightly shut and her head bobbed back and forth. She looked pained but it was a pleasurable pain. Melody moved her body closer and closer to orgasm. Her fists clenched around clumps of Obi-Wan’s hair and rammed his face in deeper. Her back arched. She gasped groaning loudly, shook, groaned, thrust, and cried out.

"Ur kuts Obi-Wan," she said trying to bring her breathing under control. Waiting a moment she took the soap in her hands and began to lather his beautiful athletic body massaging the muscles of his arms, back, and chest paying extra attention to the covering of ginger hair on his chest, and planting gentle kisses across his throat. Satisfied with the top half of his body, she knelt down just as he had done to her and continued to apply soap over his muscular legs and his tight luscious posterior. She had a good lather on her hands and she smiled as she turned him around so that she now had a magnificent view of his long, thick, stiff, erection. Taking it in her hands, she began to caress the soapy foam over his obviously aroused flesh, enjoying the sharp intake of breath as her hand touched him. With a smile, she rubbed her right hand up and down his length as she lathered his testicles with her left hand. Finally releasing him and allowing him to rinse the suds off his magnificent body, she began to smile again as she remained kneeling and again took his length into her hands. She heard him sigh as she covered his erection with her mouth causing him to groan with pleasure.

Melody stroked his staff slowly, up and down, from below the tip to the bottom of the shaft. Her lips parted and she took him into her mouth. His head was thrown back as he leaned against the fresher wall. Slowly, Melody’s head swiveled and bobbed, while her hand stroked the entire length. With each motion, her mouth took more and more of him. Obi-Wan was in heaven. His hands were in her hair guiding her rhythm. Most women would linger on the tip, but Melody eagerly, hungrily took more and more of Obi-Wan into her mouth stroking all the way.

Reaching her hand down, she took his length into her hand and guided his iron-hard erection into her heated core. She slowly sank down onto him taking him deeply inside of her and threw her head back as she felt him fill her. Obi-Wan lowered his head to take one of her breasts into his mouth once more, as he began to thrust into her slowly at first, but she wrapped her legs around his waist taking him ever deeper within her. He increased his thrusts faster, harder, and deeper. Melody matched his every motion with fierce intensity. She screamed out his name as she plunged into the most soul-shattering release that she had ever experienced.

The water, now cold on Obi-Wan’s back as he reached out and turned off the faucet while still supporting Melody with the other. Carefully he stepped out of the shower carrying Melody into the other room and gently began to dry her body placing a kiss on each place the towel rubbed. “By the Force Melody, I love you.”

*****

When Ember came back to the shuttle only the internal lights were on. She didn’t hear anything and figured that everyone was asleep. She sighed and walked into her quarters. She looked at her Master’s sleep couch and noticed it empty. Master and Master Kenobi must have fixed their problem. She walked over to the closet, hung her cloak, and stripped out of her tunic and boots. She pulled her out light blue nightgown and put it on and walked over to the couch where she noticed the flowers. She brought them to her nose and smiled becoming aware of the data pad on her pillow. Holding the flowers in her hand, she read the data pad. He wants a relationship with me? He’s not perfect he’s just crazy. I can’t do that to him. I’m leaving. And what about Bren … he warned you that no one else would want you…. After this morning, you know he lied to you. Bren said he wanted a relationship … and look how that turned out. Tell Qui-Gon how you feel and let him choose. Shaking hands put the flowers and the data pad back on the table as she grabbed the throw off her bed and wrapped it around her shoulders. Stepping quietly into the cargo bay, she walked over to the figure lying uncomfortably on the floor. Kneeling quietly beside him, she gently kissed his forehead.

“Master, I won’t be late, just let me sleep a few more minutes,” Qui-Gon mumbled as he rolled over and pulled the covers up to his neck.

Since when does his Master wake him up by kissing him on the forehead Ember thought and then hissed, “Qui-Gon, wake up. I can’t carry you. You’re just too big.”

“What? Carry who… can’t I just do it later?” Qui-Gon murmured and pulled the blanket over his head.

Ember got a mischievous grin on her face, pulled the blanket down, and began to nibble on Qui-Gon’s ear and neck. “This is no fun by myself … and if you don’t wake up now I’m going to get water from the cooler and pour it over you,” She whispered in his ear.

“Mmm… I think I’m awake now,” Qui-Gon sighed.

“Good, I was beginning to wonder what it was going to take to wake you,” Ember smiled. “Thank you for the flowers they were beautiful and you kept them alive for me. That’s the first time anyone has given me anything and not wanted something in return.”

“Why? You deserve more than just flowers,” Qui-Gon asked rubbing the sleep out of his eyes as he sat up and stretched his sore muscles.

Ember shyly ducked her head, “Na, but you deserve a nice soft bed.” Standing up and making sure the wrap covered her, she held out her hand and said, “Come on braid …er, I know where there’s one that has your name on it.”

“What are you going to call me when I no longer have this braid?” Qui-Gon asked as he stood up.

I’m not going to be here to call you anything Ember thought. Holding out her hand to him she said, “I haven’t thought about it … what would you like me to call you.”

“I would like for you to call me your Knight, but if you don’t want to it’s ok. I don’t want you to feel uncomfortable. We could just remain friends if you want,” Qui-Gon lowered his gaze to the floor as he accepted her outstretched hand.

“Qui-Gon,” she stepped back to him and lifted his chin so that he looked her in the eyes. “I can’t promise you anymore than the here and now because at the end of this mission I am leaving the Jedi. And I care enough about your feelings not to play with you like that. I mean; I know I’ve given you the wrong opinion of me. But like you said, I know nothing about you and you know only the worst about me,” Ember grinned to change the serious mood. “I have the perfect idea. My favorite food is chocolate and I keep a stash of it in my bag and for every story you tell me, I will feed you a piece and I’ll share something about me if you want.”

“That sounds great, but you don’t have to feed me chocolate to get me to tell you about myself. I’ll tell you anything that you would like to know and I will feel honored if you tell me about yourself,” Qui-Gon smiled widely and his eyes sparkled with a flicker of hope for the future.

“Then I can eat the chocolate and you can tell the stories,” She said grinning and watching Qui-Gon’s face. “Well then, come on. I’m not wearing any shoes and the cargo bay floor is cold,” Ember replied tugging gently on his arm.

"Ok," Qui-Gon smiled as they started to walk out of the cargo bay. He grabbed the blanket and pillow that he had earlier laid out on the cold floor and commented, "We don't want you to get cold feet."

Ember walked ahead of him her bare feet making no sound on the metal plating. She walked over to the closet, pulled out her travel bag, and dug through the contents. She crowed triumphantly when she found the chocolates and then climbed onto her sleep couch to wait while Qui-Gon joined her.

Qui-Gon sat beside Ember on her sleep couch and asked, “So what do you want to know?”

“Are the rumors true? Did you really let a whole flock of Gvakia Birds loose in the Temple and did they chase Master Norela all over the library?” Ember asked as she unwrapped a piece of chocolate and held it near his lips.

Qui-Gon chuckled as he opened his mouth allowing her to feed him the chocolate. He leaned back against the wall with his legs crossed. "Yeah, that’s true. I was like seven years old and I thought the birds would get sick outside in the rain. So I let them in. I even used the Force to guide them through the doors." Qui-Gon smiled at the memory of Master Yoda and Mace’s expressions when they caught him letting the last of the birds’ in, "It's your turn now. When and why did you get the tattoo?"

Ember opened another piece of chocolate and began to nibble on it before answering. “Oh my dragon. Have you ever had a mission to Karat?” Ember smiled and laid down on her side facing him with her head propped on her elbow, continuing with the explanation when he shook his head no. “Well the Ambassador of the planet once told me and Li Asa that I reminded him of one. I’m not sure if it was a compliment or not but I took it as one. Anyway last year when I won the tournament my friends and I had it done. Li has a butterfly. Tekil got some bird of prey. And Jeco has a snake. I think that was the first time I had surprised my Master since I was 14. What was the first thing you thought when you seen it?”

Qui-Gon again chuckled, and asked, “Do you really want to know the answer to that?”

“Yeah, I went to the healers a week later and I was summoned before the Council each one of them shaking their head. They told me that it wasn’t something a Jedi would do…. I think their words were, we strive for indistinguishableness not the center of attention,” Ember said quietly. “But not if you don’t want to tell.”

Qui-Gon picked at the material of his gray sleep shorts and said, "Well I think it is very beautiful, but my first thought was how I would like to place kisses along the tale and follow it down your thigh," Qui-Gon once again blushed.

Ember shyly looked down at the coverlet on the couch before answering. “You did?” I would like you to do that also…no Ember, you will not start it again…. he doesn’t need you to tear out his heart and stomp on it when you leave. “Thank you. Bren said I shouldn’t have done it. It marred my looks,” it’s not like I had any before “And he tried for the next month to convince me to have it taken off.”

"Bren is a jerk, I love the tattoo. It tells me a lot about you, like that you are not afraid to take chances or risks doing what you would not normally be permitted to do, unlike me. You’re not worried about what other people will think of you and I think that’s great," Qui-Gon told her staring into her turquoise eyes intently.

“Oh, Qui-Gon,” Ember reached up and put her hand on the side of his face, and smoothed his check with her thumb before speaking, “You don’t know how many times I wished I was you. I think that’s why I was so short when we first met. I had just gotten in trouble and you never do. I’m really sorry about that, by the way.”

"You wished you were me?" Qui-Gon repeated and then said, "I do get into trouble it's just nothing as major as you that everyone in the temple hears about it. I mainly annoy Master Obi-Wan by bringing home pathetic life forms as he calls them," Qui-Gon rolled his eyes.

She giggled when she saw the chocolate where it melted on his cheek. “I take it that Master Kenobi isn’t a big believer in the living Force,” she looked at him again and bit her lip in an attempt not to giggle again. Rising to her knees and wiping the chocolate smudge off Qui-Gon’s face she asked, “So how did he choose you to be his Padawan?”

"No, Master Obi-Wan is definitely not of the living Force. Sometimes I wonder why he chose me as a Padawan," Qui-Gon sighed and scratched his bare chest, feeling his sunburn begin to peel. "Are you sure you really want to hear that story, it's kind of long?"

Ember climbed down off the bed, walked over to the small closet, and rummaged through her bag for a bottle of lotion. Finding it, she walked back to the bed and handed him the bottle. “For the sunburn. If you want I can help you put it on your back while you tell me the story… you did say anything I wanted to know.” Oh Force now I am creating reasons to touch him. How can I go back to normal after this?

"That sounds good to me," Qui-Gon smiled as he continued to scratch his chest. "Do you want me to lie down?"

“It might help.” Ember watched as Qui-Gon lay down on her bed and had to squash the thrill she felt as Qui-Gon propped his head on his hand and looked at her. She poured a small amount in her hand and warmed it before massaging it into his back adding a touch of Force when she felt muscle spasms. Gasping as her bare leg brushed against his hand Ember said, “Ok, so you were going to tell me. He just barely touched me and I want to start over where we left off at the lake. I have to get my emotions under control.

"Ok well I guess I was about ten years old when it really started; I was in the gardens with a couple of my friends, talking about what had happened in class. Laif Zed walked over to us and started to make cruel comments about a friend of ours, Lizzy, who was sitting beside me. She was very short and thin like Master Melody; I think she was from the same planet as your Master, because they had similar eyes, except Lizzy's were a deeper shade of violet and they changed to a powder blue when she was upset. Anyway, Laif was teasing her because of her height telling her that she couldn’t be a Jedi if she wasn’t taller than five foot five, which is untrue. But he also told her that she was a Jedi reject who would not make it to Knighthood. Lizzy was so upset that her eyes changed to such a light shade of powder blue that they almost looked white.

She had just found out that she was sick two days before and at that time she hadn't told us what was wrong exactly. I can't stand to see anyone upset like that and I was just so angry with Laif." Qui-Gon frowned as the moments replayed in his mind and he clenched his fists. "I lost my temper and I punched him in the face and then I used the Force to push him across the garden. I just wanted to get him away from Lizzy."

Ember nodded sympathetically she had heard that he was very protective of his friends and the creatures he helped. Working her hands over down the lower portion of his back, she added a small amount lotion. I don’t want to stop touching him. I hope he doesn’t say no. She moved down to the back of his legs, “And…” Ember said gently prompted him.

"Obi-Wan and his friend Garen Muln were nearby and witnessed the entire thing. Garen was going to contact the crèche master but Obi-Wan stopped him and asked Garen to let him talk to me. Obi-Wan had only been a Knight for a little over six months and he still had a slight limp from the battle of Naboo where his Master was killed. And he had nearly been killed by the Sith." Qui-Gon explained. My legs are not burned but I don't want her to stop, it feels so good. "I was so embarrassed that the greatest Knight had just witnessed what I had did. But Obi-Wan was great. He calmly told me that although he found it admirable that I wanted to defend my friend that I had let my anger cloud my judgment. He told me that I needed to control my anger if I wanted to be chosen as a Padawan one day and then told me that I needn't worry about bullies like Laif because they eventually receive a punishment for their behavior," Qui-Gon chuckled. "He was right. Laif was sent to the Agri-corps the day after his thirteenth birthday.

"When Obi-Wan was ready to choose a Padawan I remembered the incident, and felt certain that he would not choose me. I found out later that he had waited to take a Padawan until I was ready. He told me that he knew at the time that he first met me that I was the Padawan that he would choose. But at that time he was not ready to train a Padawan and he felt that I wasn't ready to become a Padawan yet. After he chose me, I worked harder than ever, to make sure that I didn't disappoint him," Qui-Gon shrugged his shoulders, "That's how I became his Padawan."

“Turn over,” Ember said quietly. When Qui-Gon tuned over with his chest facing up Ember applied the lotion to her hand and started to rub it into his chest. “And what happened to Lizzy?”

Qui-Gon sighed and closed his eyes as Ember massaged the lotion into his skin and replied, "She had Bonsurf disease. It's incurable. She died five months after that. That was why she was so upset when Laif teased her that she wouldn't become a knight, because she knew that that he was right she was going to die."

Ember leaned forward and softly kissed his head fighting the urge to kiss his mouth. She probably would have if she hadn’t felt the pain radiating off him. “I’m sorry Qui-Gon. You know she’s always with you. She’s part of the Force now and I know how proud she is of you.”

"Yeah, I know. Master Obi-Wan told me that his Master Sifo-Dyas, is taking care of her now," Qui-Gon smiled sadly.

Ember sat back on her heels, “You’re all finished, do you feel better?” Ember asked as she got off the bed to put the bottle away.

"Yes thank you Emy," Qui-Gon smiled at her, still lying on her bed with his arms folded behind his head. "It's your turn now, how did Master Melody choose you? And while you tell me your story, would you like me to rub some lotion on you?"

“I wasn’t going to ask you to, but the skin across my shoulders is tight. That’s what I get for being a red head and playing in the sun.” She turned around, grinned, and handed the bottle to Qui-Gon, thanking the Force she had decided to go swimming. “Where do you want me…. oh great that didn’t sound good. But please tell me under you or on top of you. Dropping her head to hide the blush as she said, “I mean on the couch laying down or sitting on the floor.”

"Um you can lay on the sleep couch," Qui-Gon told her taking the bottle of lotion out of her hand as he sat up and moved over, giving her room to get on the bed also.

Ember climbed up on the bed next to him and lay down on her stomach. “What if there is no special story behind Melody taking me as her Padawan.”

"I'm sure that there is some kind of story to go along with it, and even if there isn't, I would still like to hear it," Qui-Gon smiled as he liberally poured some of the lotion into his hand.
*********
Ember sighed and half turned over with a mock glare at him. “If you laugh, I promise I’ll get you.” She turned back over and concentrated on the table where the flowers were not Qui-Gon’s hands. “First I need to set the story. You know the small lake on the Seventh level. What have you heard about the child who got stuck in the intake tube?”

"That the child was responsible for a quarter of Master Yoda’s gray hair. Seriously I remember hearing that some one was stuck in it, but I don’t remember anything other than that. Why was it you? And I’m not promising that I won’t laugh, I might want to find out what you’ll do to me,” Qui-Gon smiled as he began to rub the lotion onto her shoulders.

Ember sighed as his hands worked both the soreness and tightness away relaxing her until she closed her eyes. I know what I would like to do to him. His hands feel so good. I need to get away from him. I am beginning to feel too comfortable around him and I need to regain my sense of balance. “Trust me you don’t want to know because it isn’t pretty.” She looked at him to show him she was serious. “I was six and I wanted see the lake. Master Barauga was stuck watching us that day and it was always easy for me to get away from him. So I slipped away from him. We I saw this Cachge and I sensed it’s distress. So I dived into the water to save it. The major problem was, I didn’t know how to swim.”

Qui-Gon chuckled, "I’ll bet you were cute at six," he said as he continued to rub the lotion onto her shoulders sliding his hands beneath the silky material of her small nightgown to rub lotion further down her back. “But why would you jump into the water if you couldn’t swim? Couldn’t you have just told Master Barauga?”

Ember groaned and turned over grabbed the bottle of lotion away and used the Force to pin his hands to his sides and began to tickle him. “You want to laugh I will give you some thing to laugh about.”

"That's not fair, stop using the Force," Qui-Gon laughed, moving his feet back and forth on the bed, turning the covers that he was laying on into a crumpled mess.

Ember smiled, “I warned you.” Oh force, I just had to find a reason to touch him again… what am I talking about…. He practically has his hands all over my body and I don’t want him to stop either. This is a memory I can take with me. Ember released Qui-Gon from the Force hold and settled down to get comfortable against the pillows on the bed.

"Ok, I'll try to contain myself, you may continue to tell your story, but I'm not making any guarantees that I will refrain from laughing or commenting," Qui-Gon smiled. "Now lay down milady and I'll finish putting lotion on you." Gods I want to touch her all over again. Her skin is so soft and I want to taste it again.

Ember squashed the butterflies that invaded her stomach when Qui-Gon called her his lady. I am failing miserably at not losing my heart to him. She thought as she lay back down on her stomach tugging the end of the short nightgown down. “I couldn’t tell Master Barauga because I had slipped away. I was sure that the Cachge was going to die so I jumped in the water. Then the intake valve sucked me in. If I had not used the Force and hit Master Windu in the back of the head with a rock, I would have died. They rescued me and then I wanted one of them to go save the Cachge. Master Barauga stood there and laughed at me and after that incident my Master believes that Master Barauga is the reason for my no fear attitude.”

“Ah, so I'll have to thank him for it then," Qui-Gon commented as he again began to rub lotion into her skin on her back beneath her nightgown. “So did Master Barauga go and get the Cachge?”

“No, its distress had nothing to do with drowning. She was about to have pups and they always return to the water when giving birth. Why do you like that about me because you could be that way also? It’s about focusing in the here and now. Not the future. Not the past, Qui-Gon. You can not control the future no matter what you do or how much you try … what will happen will happen.” Ember said gasping as his fingers grazed a sensitive area of skin. I wish that he would flip me over on my back and make love to me again. No Ember you don’t … no entanglements, he wants more than just a couple times of having sex and it would hurt him terribly to do that to him. His hands feel so good and so did his mouth … Ember stop now.

"You sound like Master Obi-Wan," Qui-Gon commented, removing his hands from beneath the fabric of her nightgown, and starting to put lotion onto her long legs. "Except he wouldn't tell me that I should act like that," he smiled. I have to hurry up and finish doing this, before I loose control and start to touch where I shouldn’t. She has such a great body though; I could touch her all night.

“Now that’s interesting, he has the reputation for being the most…. Ummm …uptight Master in the order and I’m the most likely to bring it down around our ears and you tell me we sound alike. Maybe your Master isn’t quite what he seems. But if we both tell you then maybe we’re right,” she winked to let him know she was joking. “It’s your turn; tell me one thing that no one else in the Temple knows.”

"Ok. My master is not as uptight as everyone thinks he is, but if you knew his past you could understand why he tries extra hard to do everything right," Qui-Gon said, rubbing the calf of her right leg, and slowly moving upwards to her knee. let let’s see, something that no one else from the temple knows. Well they don't know about what happened this morning. And everyone believes that I've been with just about every female Knight, Padawan, and even some Masters in the temple, but they don't know that I've only been with six counting you."

Ember rolled up on her hip and elbow, turning to look at him through a curtain of hair. Six? No …not possible. His talents are too well known… the idea that there were not many women pleased her very much. She turned over, watched Qui-Gon, and noted the blush. He’s telling me the truth. Ember smiled and put her hand on his, “You’re right, my Master doesn’t know anything about you and I’m sorry for this morning’s conversation.”

"I’m sorry. I should have interrupted and told you to turn it off but I was too angry with what Master Melody had said that I-" Qui-Gon stopped mid sentence his eyes growing wide as he stopped rubbing lotion on her legs. He abruptly asked, "Did you turn off the intercom?"

Ember’s mouth formed an o as she remembered Qui-Gon had told her about it earlier, but she was so upset by the time she returned to the transport she had forgotten it. Slowly she shook her head no and looked over at the wall, and used the Force to turn off the switch.

After making love two more times that evening, Melody and Obi-Wan fell asleep wrapped in the security of each other's arms. The sounds of their Padawans' conversation through the intercom woke them. Well at least Ember didn’t let Qui-Gon sleep in the cargo bay Melody thought.

Oh Force I forgot to turn off the intercom. I wonder why Qui-Gon didn’t. He was about to reach into the bond and tell his Padawan to turn it off when he felt Melody tense in his arms. “Should I go in there and tell them to turn it off Mel?”

"No" ans answered. "I want to hear his answer to the question that she just asked,” Melody told him. She couldn’t believe she was eavesdropping on her Padawan and Qui-Gon question each other about rumors. She couldn't imagine why they would turn on the intercom in the first place. "Obi-Wan, why did they turn the intercom on? Don’t they know that we can hear them?"

“Umm they didn’t turn it on beloved. It’s been on since early this morning when you and your Padawan were discussing her desire to leave the Jedi Order,” Obi-Wan replied hesitantly.

"You listened in on our private conversation and never told us that the intercom was on? Why would you do that? Why didn't you tell me that you overheard our whole conversation? I could have turned it off earlier," Melody asked glaring at Obi.

Obi-Wan sighed, leaned back on the pillows, and ran his hand through his hair. “To start with Mel … I was ashamed of the fact that we had let our emotions rule us and I had not paid more attention to your Padawan’s needs. Then I forgot about it.”

"I guess I can forgive you this time Master Obi-Wan," Melody grinned slyly at him and then lowered her head to his chest. "Maybe your Padawan can convince Ember to stay or perhaps he'll help us to come up with a plan that will convince her to stay."

Obi-Wan’s fingers idly played with strands of her hair and listened as Ember started telling Qui-Gon how she was chosen as a Padawan. “Why did you take Ember…Mel?”

"I knew Ember ty wty well. Do you remember how I used to spend a lot of time in the crèche helping to care for the children?” When Obi-Wan nodded she continued. “I always felt something special for Ember. As she grew older I played games with her and took her to the Temple gardens. On a few occasions I would take her out of the Temple on little adventures with me. When she was old enough and I felt ready to train a Padawan it was only natural to take her. I felt a bond forming between us from the time she was eleven and I knew that she was meant to be my Padawan. That is why I cannot accept her decision to leave. I just can’t believe that the Force chose me to instruct her only to let her leave me.”

Callused fingers caressed the pale skin of Melody’s back as Obi-Wan leaned forward and kissed her burgundy hair. “Have you told her this? Because it didn’t sound like she knew.”

"I thought that she understood. I thought that she felt the bond forming before I asked her to be my Padawan. I guess I was wrong. I certainly plan to speak with her about it. Maybe this has somethto dto do with why she wants to leave,” Melody told him. She began to fight to keep her eyes open as fatigue threatened to overtake her again.

Obi-Wan’s eyes bulged as Ember called him uptight but he was happy when his Padawan defended him. Closing his eyes, sleep came just as he heard Qui-Gon say that no one in the Temple knew about this morning. Obi-Wan shook his head, falling off the sleep couch, pulling Melody down on top of him as he heard Qui-Gon admit that Ember was his sixth sleeping partner.

Melody looked at Obi-Wan suddenly wide-awake and asked, "Why are we on the floor?"

“Qui-Gon” he choked out. “He just admitted that he has been with six people including your Padawan.” He watched as Melody stood up and sat down on the couch. Sitting down beside Melody, he started to put on his pants to go speak with Qui-Gon.

"Obi-Wan, I don't think now is a good time for you to discuss this with your Padawan," Melody told him. "You should wait until you calm down before speaking with him." Melody suddenly felt very guilty for believing the rumors that the Padawan had been with almost half the Jedi Temple females.

Obi-Wan realized that Melody was right and sent a message through the bond letting Qui-Gon know they would talk in the morning, before crawling back into bed with Melody. {No Padawan, the intercom was on and we heard every word.} Obi-Wan told him through the bond. {We’ll talk about this in the morning.}

{Yes Master,} Qui-Gon said into the bond. "Master Obi-Wan just told me that they heard every word we said. I'm in so much trouble," Qui-Gon groaned.

Melody and Obi-Wan fell back to sleep wrapped in each other's arms within minutes of lying down. Melody felt safer wrapped in his strong warm arms than she had ever felt before.

******

Ember’s shoulders shook as she laughed. “I ….am…. sorry.” she said gasping for breath. “You… know that trouble follows… me and visits…. my friends as much as me. Are… you sure… you want to stay around me?”

“Making Master Obi-Wan's hair turn gray will be worth it," Qui-Gon smiled.

“Poor Master Obi-Wan, maybe Master Melody can keep him partially sane,” Ember giggled lying down on her back. “Guess it’s my turn, what do you want to know?”

"Hopefullyui-Gui-Gon agreed. He began to rub the lotion on her calf. "Well now that you know that the rumors about me weren’t true, what about you? Is it true that you have been with Bren and all of his friends, plus a few other Padawans?”

Ember tensed at the question, moved her leg out of Qui-Gon’s hands, and sat up before speaking. Why didn’t I shut up when I had the chance? “No,” She said almost inaudibly. “I’ve only been with one person besides you.”

"I didn't think they were true," Qui-Gon said and kissed her forehead gently.

“You didn’t?” Ember asked quietly. Turquoise eyes searched Qui-Gon’s face for a sign that he was wasn’t being truthful. Then why did he ask the question?

"No I didn't. I know about rumors all too well and I know that normally they are not true. After this morning I could tell that you weren't as experienced as everyone said," Qui-Gon told her.

“Oh,” Ember said. She pulled his head to her and assaulted his lips nibbling the tender flesh. Qui-Gon opened his mouth and she slid her tongue between his parted lips. She could taste the chocolate on his tongue as she began to swirl her tongue around his lightly grazing his teeth. She pulled away panting, “I’m sorry Qui-Gon. I promised myself I wouldn’t do that to you no matter how bad I wanted to.”

"Why?" Qui-Gon asked trying to catch his breath.

“Because I don’t want to hurt you when I leave,” Ember said pulling away.

"You… you're still planning on leaving?" Qui-Gon asked trying unsuccessfully not to let his disappointment show. "I thought or hoped that you would change your mind."

“Yes, I’m still leaving,” Ember placed one hand on his bare chest and the other on the side of his face. “Please tell me that the time we are spending together both now and this morning was not about changing my mind.”

"No, I wouldn’t do that to you. I admit that I hoped that you might change your mind but that's not why I did it. It's not why I'm sitting here beside you now," Qui-Gon assured her. "If you want to know the truth, I’ve liked you since I first saw you throw a plate of food in an annoying Padawan’s lap three years ago. I wanted to get to know you. I wanted to ask you to the Senate ball last year. I thought that you wouldn’t want to go with me or that you would think that I was asking just to get you in bed. I didn't want you to think of me that way." Qui-Gon took a deep breath and came to a decision. He looked Ember squarely in the eyes and said, "If you still feel you must leave the Temple, and you want me to, I will find a way to come and see you, even if I have to sneak out of the temple to do so."

“I can not let you give up your dream of becoming a Jedi for me and if your Master should catch you, I don’t think that he’ll be as forgiving as mine.” Ember leaned closer brusbrushed his lips with a feather light kiss.

"I can slip away to see you and still be a Jedi. In a few months when I'm a knight, I can stop to see you between missions if you want me to. As for Obi-Wan catching me, I really don't care about that," Qui-Gon kissed her ardently to show her how strongly he felt about her.

Ember sighed in contentment as Qui-Gon pinned her body to his. Her arms crawled around his neck, her hands clutching his hair. She kissed his mouth, trailing across his jaw and down his neck.

"You are so beautiful Emy," Qui-Gon said as she kissed her way down his neck to his lotion-covered collarbone. "Do you really want to do this again? I want you to be sure, because I'm not sure that if we do this again that I can refrain from calling you my girlfriend?" Qui-Gon asked as he held her tight against his chest. Please say yes. Now that I know what it’s like to hold you in my arms I don’t ever want to let you go.

“Qui-Gon” Ember said as she lifted her head to look into his cobalt eyes. “Don’t center on your anxieties. Keep your focus on the here and now, my maverick.”

"Emy I'm serious; I don't think…" Ember interrupted his sentence by kissing him. She deepened the kiss slipping her tongue into his mouth and again twirling it around his tongue. When they parted for breath Qui-Gon tried again to make her understand what he was trying to tell her, "Emy… I really think… we should… mmmm," Qui-Gon trailed off as Emy kissed her way down his neck and then started down his chest playing close attention to his nipples. Qui-Gon suddenly found it hard to think clearly as he realized what Ember had called him, "Wait did you just call me your Maverick?" he asked.

Smiling against his chest Ember traced her tongue around one of his nipples, then looked up at him and asked, “With any of the others, did you sleep … the full night with them?”

"No," Qui-Gon kissed the top of her head. "I've never been with the same person more than once either. They all treated me as if I was some kind of trophy." Qui-Gon sighed as Ember continued tracing her tongue around his nipple while she gently rubbed her hand in a circular motion on his stomach. "I saw the way that Master Obi-Wan looked at your Master and I knew how happy he felt just to be near her, even though he didn't have the courage to say anything. I just thought that maybe I could feel the same way about someone, but it never happened."

“Then stay with me tonight please,” Ember asked as she watched his face. “I have no need of trophies.”

Qui-Gon smiled at her and began to kiss her neck. He continued to kiss his way down to just above the beginning of her nightgown. Slipping his left hand underneath the bottom of the material, he slid it upward, letting it rest on her soft breast. He gently rubbed the pad of his thumb over the throbbing rose-colored nipple. "You’re wonderful. Do you know that?" he asked her in between kisses.

Several hours later, Ember lay stretched out along Qui-Gon’s body their passions sated. She rested between his legs, her right leg thrown over his and used his shoulder as her pillow. Her fingers idly ran up and down his side, chest, and stomach. By the second time their lovemaking had lost that desperate edge and they leisurely explored each other’s body. She shivered as Qui-Gon rubbed the end of her braid over her bare skin. Using the Force she called the blanket Qui-Gon had brought with him from the cargo bay and covered them. As they lay on the bed entwined in each other’s arms, Ember found it difficult to keep her eyes open. “And to think the Council intended this mission to be a punishment and I was dreading it.”

"Emy if this is punishment, I would love to know what it's like when they reward you," Qui-Gon smiled as his eyes began to close.

“So w I m I my beautiful maverick,” Ember whispered back as she slipped off to sleep.


To be continued….