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Disclaimer: Mr. Lucas owns everything Star Wars. I am not
making any money.
Notes: To Alex
Qui-Gon Jinn was reading a compad at his desk when he was
interrupted by a knock at the door.
"Bant!" he exclaimed happily, hugging the girl to him. "I
thought you were due back in two days."
"My Master and I completed negotiations early, and took the
first transport back." She beamed at him. "Congratulations!"
She stopped in confusion as Obi-Wan frantically shook his head
and waved his arms behind Master Jinn. Quick thinking in a
crisis had always been one of her specialties, so she continued
smoothly after only the briefest of pauses. "Congratulations on
your birthday. I know we missed it because of our mission, but
Master Ault and I want to celebrate with you and Obi when
you're free." She grinned as Obi-Wan gave her a look of
unparalleled relief over Jinn's shoulder.
If Master Jinn had noticed her hesitation, he was too
experienced a diplomat by far to let it show on his face. "We'd
like that. In the meantime, how about joining us for
dinner?"
"Thanks. Hello, Obi." Bant grabbed her friend, knowing it was
safe to acknowledge his presence in the room. She gave him an
impudent grin, warning him there'd be a full grilling and
roasting later. To her satisfaction, he minutely
reddened.
"Come and help me cook," Obi-Wan said, putting her arm in his
and dragging her into the kitchen before she could do more
damage.
Instead of heading back to his compad, Qui-Gon went out to the
herb garden to gather spices for their meal. He heard the
young, excited voices even though they were whispering. He had
not intended to eavesdrop, but words flowed out to him on the
late afternoon air.
"Obi, what's going on? When I left six weeks ago, all you
talked about was asking Master Jinn to bond with you right
after your Knighting ceremony. I don't see a braid, boy, so
what happened?"
There was a pause, and Master Jinn had to strain to hear
Obi-Wan's answer. "I haven't told him how I feel yet because
things are going so well. We're already the perfect team. The
Council accepts us as permanent negotiation partners. What more
could I want?"
Jinn heard Bant's snort more clearly than her words. "We both
know exactly what you want, and I've been hearing it for years.
Why don't you just admit it? You're afraid to tell him. The man
who once single-handedly defeated twenty slavers and their
Twi'lek mascot can't go in there and tell Master Jinn he loves
him."
Herbs fell back to the soil as the usually unflappable Jedi
Master broke into an incandescent smile. "Thank the Force for
Bant's bluntness," he thought in relief. He had loved Obi-Wan
for years, but believed his former apprentice saw him in a
paternal light. Now that he knew Obi-Wan loved him too, the sun
seemed brighter. He went back to his compad, his heart
overflowing with quiet joy.
The young Knights called him in for dinner, and he and Obi-Wan
sat across from each other in their usual seats, with Bant
staring at their profiles from the third chair Obi-Wan had
dragged in from the common room.
"Have you decided what you're teaching next session?" Bant
asked. The Master/Knight team conducted seminars together on a
wide variety of diplomatic topics, drawn from their
considerable experience in the field. Bant had heard the
standing joke that it required skill just to get into the
courses, which were always full hours after being
announced.
Obi-Wan nodded as he finished a bite of kitash. "Remember the
Accord of Dallin? We're analyzing the fine print down to the
commas."
Bant could hear the relish in his voice, and was a bit
envious. Senior level classes were not open to padawans, and
she had at least a year of training left.
Looking at her with understanding, Qui-Gon redirected the
conversation to her recent success. "Tell us about the
resolution to the Naur crisis."
Bant eagerly rattled off the details of her latest mission.
Her friends noted approvingly that she minimized her own role,
and gave a glowing account of her Master's accomplishments.
Qui-Gon knew he'd get the full story when he met Master Ault
for tea the next day.
Finally, Bant rose to go. "Thanks for the excellent dinner and
conversation. It's good to be back in-Temple."
"I'll walk you to your rooms," Obi-Wan said as he waved at
Qui-Gon. The Jedi Master could only imagine the talk they would
have on the way from the bit he had overheard earlier. Bant was
probably prodding Obi-Wan to action, but Qui-Gon didn't want
him to speak until he was ready.
When Obi-Wan returned, Qui-Gon was sitting on the garden
terrace with a cup of cha. Obi-Wan joined him and saw the
second cup when Qui-Gon lifted it to pour his tea. That small
action, bespeaking years of comfort and domesticity, decided
him. He had plenty already, but both of them deserved
more.
He sat down next to his former Master, and smiled distractedly
at him. Deciding to break his silence was one thing, actually
doing so was something else.
Qui-Gon handed him the teacup, saying, "It was a pleasure
hearing you and Bant laugh together tonight at dinner. She's
good for you, my serious-minded Knight."
"Yes she is, Qui. I've been so focused on my Trials that I've
neglected other things lately."
Qui-Gon sipped his cha reflectively. "I was the same way until
Master Yoda gave me a datapad filled with the worst Dagoban
jokes you've ever heard, real groaners."
Obi-Wan started to laugh, putting his cup down on the table
none too steadily. "So where are my jokes?"
"Each apprentice has different needs," Qui-Gon intoned
solemnly, sending Obi-Wan off into fresh peals of laughter.
Their quarters hadn't heard such sounds in ages, not until
Bant's visit sparked them off tonight.
Qui-Gon looked at his former apprentice speculatively. "You
know, you're right. As soon as I heard about Bant's mission, I
should have dug up that joke pad after all." Qui-Gon started to
rise, but Obi-Wan's hand on his wrist stayed him.
Obi-Wan knelt before Qui-Gon and took his hands. Now was the
time to speak, when they were together in love and laughter.
"Qui-Gon, I have been in love with you for years. Can you love
this new Knight before you?" Obi-Wan's smile was radiant,
clearly visible in the starry Coruscant night.
Qui-Gon returned his smile with delight. This was the moment
he had worked toward for years: Obi-Wan's Knighting and the
freedom finally to speak his heart. He stood, drawing Obi-Wan
up with him. "You are the heart of me, Obi-Wan. I love
you."
Obi-Wan pulled Qui-Gon's head down and kissed him on the
bridge of the nose. "My love," he breathed, pleased beyond
measure to address the man before him this way, "Will you bond
with me?"
"Yes, Obi-Wan, oh yes..."
The rest of Master Jinn's ecstatic response was cut off as a
flying blur entered the garden at top speed.
"Um, I'm sorry, Mmmaster Jinn, Obi-Wan," Bant stammered, her
eyes bulging out even more than usual. "I forgot my compad from
the mission, and I need it for the Council debriefing tomorrow
morning." As she talked, Bant recovered from her startlement,
and gave them a shy smile. She held up the pad as if to confirm
her story, saluted them with it, and ran from their
quarters.
The Serenity Garden glowed in the afternoon sun. The copper
streaks in Obi-Wan's hair shone as Master Jinn saw him walk
towards him accompanied by Bant, as he was by Master Yoda. The
two men stepped forward to stand side by side as Yoda presided.
"Stand in the Light you do. Together you have been for twelve
years and now commit you to a lifetime. How say you?"
Qui-Gon said, "I vow to love you always as I do at this
moment, and grow with you like the plants in this
garden."
Obi-Wan replied, "I vow to love you always, in this life, and
Force-willing, beyond."
The Jedi witnesses, their family, their friends, filed out,
leaving the newly bonded pair alone.
They savored their first kiss as they grew into one another.
As they turned to leave, Bant rushed up to them, crowing,
"Congratulations!"
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