Vacation Time

by Leigh. leigh@sunhill.co.uk



ARCHIVE: master_apprentice, FirstTimeSlash. Anywhere else just ask and ye shall receive.

CATEGORY/WARNINGS: SLASH. Humour. NC17. Contains M/M relationships. If you are offended by a consensual sexual relationship between two men read no further. You have been warned!

CHARACTERS: QGJ/OWK. Pre TPM so no spoilers.

SUMMARY: QGJ & OWK are sent on their most perilous mission yet. Baby-sitting. An old friend makes the boys re-evaluate their relationship.

DISCLAIMERS: I don't own them. George Lucas does. I just like to play with them, see what positions I can get them into that George can't <G>

FEEDBACK: Okay then, force me <G>. Would love to hear what you think, good or bad. Can't improve if you don't tell me what I'm doing wrong.



"Master, why are we doing this?" Obi-Wan's voice was calm but Qui-Gon could feel the undercurrent of intrepidation through their bond. It brought a small smile to the Master lips.

How many times had his padawan stood beside him in battle? How many times had they drawn their sabres and literally fought for their lives? To many times for him to count was how many. In all that time he had never felt the apprehension in his student that he was feeling now. And what great terror had provoked such a reaction in Obi-Wan?

Children.

Admittedly, it was 20 children, all under the age of 7, and they were about to take them on a weeks vacation. Qui-Gon's smile grew as he realised that perhaps Obi-Wan was right to be a little afraid.

"Because, Obi-Wan, it is the duty of all Jedi to help shape the minds of future generations." He answered sincerely but didn't quite succeed in wiping his amusement from his lips.

"But why us Master? We are not teachers?"

Qui-Gon considered his answer before replying and decided he should tell his student the truth. "Let me just say that someone called in a favour I owed them." He finally admitted.

Obi-Wan regarded him with mild surprise for a moment, eyebrows raised ever so slightly. "That must have been one big favour."

Qui-Gon was unable to suppress a bubble of laughter and it erupted from his throat in a deep growl. "You might say that padawan."




The scene that greeted them in the departure hall was as bad as Obi-Wan had imagined. 20 children were running around the large hanger, chasing each other and simultaneously testing the capacity of their lungs. He tried not to let the frantic activity and noise grate on his nerves and succeeded in keeping his features as bland as he could. He hoped.

Qui-Gon seemed to be smiling in amusement, again.

A female, dressed in the clothes of a Jedi infant school teacher waved a brief greeting from across the hanger and his Master raised one large hand in response. Obi-Wan wondered if this was the person that his Master owed such a huge debt to.

She was petite in build, no more than 5 ft in height and slim built. Her hair was dark and short. She was humanoid, but not human. Her skin was pale, almost porcelain, with large, almost child like eyes. He didn't recognise her but she clearly knew his Master.

They watched silently as she finished speaking with another teacher and then strode confidently towards them; somehow managing to dodge half a dozen children who darted across her path, and gracefully side-stepping any number of toy shaped obstacles on the way. When she finally reached them she bowed slightly in respect.

"It's a pleasure to see you again Master Jinn." Her tone was almost teasing, as if she knew how much both of them didn't want to be there.

Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan returned her bow and Obi-Wan was caught of guard when his normally reserved Master stepped forward and placed a soft kiss on the woman's cheek.

She looked to be barely older than Obi-Wan, yet she did not wear a padawan braid which made him think she had already passed her trials. He caught a sense of her life force and was amazed to feel a soul aged far beyond her appearance.

"It is a pleasure to see you again also Aryad'ni. May I introduce my padawan, Obi-Wan Kenobi."

The woman's large green eyes turned to take in the smaller frame of the man standing beside the Jedi Master. He felt her eyes run from his head to his toes and back again before she finally made eye contact and smiled warmly. "It is an honour to meet you Obi-Wan."

He inclined his head slightly in recognition of her compliment. He had been ready to dislike the person responsible for forcing them to spend a week with a bunch of small children but he was already failing. Besides she was quite beautiful. He wondered if her beauty may be the reason for his Master agreeing to come on this mission but dismissed the idea immediately. His Master was many things, a slave to his libido was not one of them.

"We are clear to depart if you gentlemen are ready?" She informed them turning her eyes towards the children behind her.

Qui-Gon nodded. "Should we round them up before they break something?"

"Wise as always," she smiled.

Getting all the children aboard the transport ship hadn't been as hard as Obi-Wan had imagined. After all, these were not just children, but Jedi's in training. They were already used to obeying their teachers.

He helped Aryad'ni and Qui-Gon settle the children into their seats, strap them in and conduct a thorough head count. He looked down at the tiny trusting faces and felt himself smile. He could still remember the vacations he had taken as a child. They were memories filled with excitement and laughter. A chance to take a break away from the rigorous training in the Temple.

2 hours into the trip his smile was fading. He'd done more trips to the bathroom with more children than he cared to count, settled at least 10 squabbles and narrowly avoided being thrown up on. He was trying hard to remind himself that he liked children.

By the time they arrived on the forest planet of Teskat he had a thumping headache that he just couldn't shift, no matter what technique he used. Qui-Gon seemed, outwardly, to be fairing slightly better. He was still managing to smile every time one of the children bombarded him with questions. Perhaps, Obi-Wan thought to himself, having survived having me as his apprentice the last 10 years he was able to face anything.

Aryad'ni seemed completely unfazed. She handled the children with a kind but firm hand and they responded to her without question. In fact, she seemed to be getting off far lighter than Obi-Wan or his Master. Obviously these seemingly innocent children knew a sucker when they saw one.

They arrived at their destination about mid-day and the afternoon was spent in a whirl of organising lunch, clearing up after lunch, setting up camp, arranging the children's belongings in their tents, making a camp fire, making dinner, clearing up after dinner, getting 20 children washed and ready for bed and finally the ritual of stories around the camp fire.

Obi-Wan wasn't sure where the hours between their arrival and sunset had disappeared to. He'd had to call on every ounce of energy he had to keep going the last hour. He was exhausted yet he seemed to have done nothing.

His mind was still spinning at all the questions that had been fired at him during the day. Why was he doing this? Why was he doing that? Why did he do it that way? Why couldn't they do this? Why, why, why. He would be quite happy to never hear that word again as long as he lived.

Once the children were finally settled he sunk down in front of the fire, collapsed onto his back in exhaustion and sighed heavily. He felt the familiar presence of his Master sink down to the ground beside him.

"Can I ask you a question?" Obi-Wan questioned him without opening his eyes.

"Certainly. So long as it does not start with the word why."

Obi-Wan chuckled softly. "How did you survive training 3 padawans Master?"

He heard Qui-Gon laugh gently. "Sometimes I wonder myself. Besides, I haven't survived you yet. I might not."

Obi-Wan opened one eye to look up at the older man. His friend was smiling at him softly in the light of the camp fire.

Qui-Gon's hair had given up any attempt to stay in it's usual tie back and had fallen around his face and shoulders. His tunic was dishevelled from having a group of children use him as a human climbing frame and his cheek was sporting a small bruise from a run in with a child size elbow.

He felt an all to familiar longing sweep through his body. Did his Master have any idea how beautiful he looked in that flickering light. Obi-Wan immediate turned the thought away. He was to tired to be sure he was successfully shielding his inappropriate thoughts about his Master.

Qui-Gon held his half gaze, still smiling to himself.

"Tell me Master," Obi-Wan asked closing his eyes again. "What is the debt that you owe Aryad'ni?"

He heard Qui-Gon settle into a more comfortable position before he answered. "I owe her my very life."

Obi-Wan waited silently, aware that his Master was going to explain further but in his own time.

"When I was much younger, younger than you are now, I was sent on a mission with Master Yoda. Aryad'ni was a padawan herself, her Master had been killed and Master Yoda was minding her until a suitable position came up. She was very near to taking her trials and much wiser than I was."

Qui-Gon's voice was surprisingly melancholy as he recounted the tale.

"I......." he paused. "Resented her presence. Thinking I knew better I went against my Master wishes and took it upon myself to settle a dispute between 2 families in the village we were staying in. It was a foolish and reckless thing to do but I was not thinking clearly."

Obi-Wan tried to hide his shock at the thought of his Master doing something so out of character. He opened his eyes finally to watch Qui-Gon finish.

"I was held hostage for 2 days and Aryad'ni risked her life to save me. She was badly wounded and as a result can never have children of her own. She saved my life and gave up the opportunity of ever creating a new one to do so. I blamed myself for her injuries and nearly left the order, she made me see sense, again, and I am proud to count her as a friend."

"Is that why she works with the children now?" Obi-Wan questioned.

"I do not know, her reasons are her own. I would never presume to read meanings into anything that she does. She is an extraordinary lady and a fine Knight," Qui-Gon answered honestly.

Obi-Wan felt something along their bond as his Master spoke and suddenly it became clear to him that the two had at one time been lovers. He was shocked to find that he was jealous.

It was ridiculous to be jealous of Qui-Gon's ex-lover. She was certainly not his only one. His Master was a handsome man, even now he still attracted the amorous attentions of fellow Jedi and non-Jedi alike. As unreasonable as it was, Obi-Wan wanted his Master to be chased. He wanted to be the one to show him the many wondrous pleasures a lover could provide.

He sighed to himself mentally. That thought was even more ridiculous. Qui-Gon would never return his feelings. To him Obi-Wan was still a child, his padawan. Whilst he knew that his Master loved him like a son he knew there was no hope that he would ever return the type of love that Obi-Wan held for him.

Aryad'ni watched them from the open flap of her tent. Obi-Wan was laid flat out on his back, hands resting casually either side of him, face turned towards his Master. Qui-Gon sat level with his padawan's head, his eyes fixed on the younger mans face. She saw Qui-Gon laugh softly and in response Obi-Wan's body shook as he joined in. A small smile crept onto her face as she watched.

She relaxed her body and reached out tentatively with the Force. Not wanting to intrude but needing to share their warmth. She was struck by a wave of emotions. Did these 2 men have any idea how much they were radiating their feelings for one another? She let herself almost breath in their presence, closing her eyes against the warmth of the feelings as they washed over and through her.

There was such love and understanding between them.

Such feelings were not uncommon between a Master and apprentice. It was, for most, a father/son relationship, yet she was certain she had caught something more, something there but not quite solid.

Desire? Lust? Love? They were all there but when she tried to get a grasp on them they were gone. They were more like emotional echoes.

These 2 men were both hiding something much stronger. She opened her eyes again and chewed on her bottom lip thoughtfully. Did they know? Had they ever spoken to each other of the hidden feelings that Aryad'ni was certain were there? Or were they both in denial, not wanting to admit that their relationship had progressed beyond a Master/apprentice or even father/son bond.

She thought for a moment more, considered all the possibilities, made her mind up and scooted out of her tent to join them at the fireside.

When she approached she could see that they had both become serious. Whatever topic they had been discussing had stopped the laughter they had been sharing minutes before.

She sat beside Qui-Gon and turned her head to one side slightly. "Listen." She whispered.

Both men listened, and heard nothing. Obi-Wan said so.

Aryad'ni smiled. "I know, silence. Isn't it wonderful. Make the most of it. It's the only time your going to get to hear it the next week."




Aryad'ni wasn't mistaken in her observation that the only peace they would get would come at night, after the children were all asleep.

The days were filled with supervising and amusing the youngster. Walking, swimming, feeding, fielding question after question, not to mention nursing any number of cut knees and scraped elbows.

The children collapsed exhausted into bed each night, and the 3 adults collapsed in front of the camp fire shortly after.

Aryad'ni felt that she had formed a real bond with Obi-Wan during their trip. The young man was friendly and calm around the children and had quickly won himself his own fan club. The children almost fought to be the one sitting next to him at meal times. He had quickly won his way into her affections also.

It was the night before their return to Coruscant that she finally managed to capture Qui-Gon on his own and put her plan into action.

Obi-Wan had retired to his tent for the night whilst his Master was enjoying the last few moments of the rapidly dying fire. Aryad'ni pulled herself a little closer to him so she could talk in a low voice.

"Obi-Wan is a fine young man. You should be very proud of him," she started innocently enough.

Instantly she felt a bloom of pride from her old friend. "I am proud of him. He will be a fine Knight. I shall be sorry to lose him when the time arrives for him to take his trials." He answered honestly.

"Surely the Council will allow you to remain together once he is made a Knight?" She questioned.

She saw Qui-Gon frown sadly. "It is unlikely."

"Surely they know of the special relationship the two of you have? It would be cruel to separate lovers. Have you not thought of asking him to life bond with you? The council would surely allow you to stay together if you did, they are very aware of the power of two bonded Jedi." It was a gamble, but one she was willing to take. She only hoped the Jedi Master didn't see through her straight away.

She waited for his retort. And continued to wait. He seemed to have gone temporarily speechless.

"I'm sorry if I have spoken out of turn," she found herself apologising, not entirely honestly. "I didn't mean to intrude into you personal life. I was only expressing my desire to see two people so much in love spending the rest of their lives together."

His head turned slightly and she took the full force of his gaze.

"Obi-Wan is my padawan, not my lover." He voice was calm, controlled but his eyes spoke a very different story. He was shocked that someone had seen the true desire in his heart.

"But you do love him?" She was walking a thin line now.

"Of course." A sharp answer.

"I mean you love him as a person, not as your padawan. I feel it every time you look at each other. If you both want the same thing why has it not happened?"

"What I do or do not feel is beside the point. Obi-Wan is still young, it would be wrong for anyone to expect him to decide to spend the rest of his life with someone at such a young age."

"Obi-Wan is far from a boy Qui-Gon. He is very much a man, and a gorgeous one at that. You shouldn't hide your feelings from him to long or someone else will fill the gap that he so desperately wants you to. Sith, if I thought he'd have me I'd thrown myself at him right now." She allowed a small grin to creep onto her lips.

Qui-Gon continued to stare at her, face passive.

"Besides," Aryad'ni finished. "You shouldn't decide if it's wrong for Obi-Wan to bond with someone for life without asking him what he wants."

She got to her feet and bid her friend goodnight. She had planted the seed, she only hoped it would grow in the direction she wanted it to.

Qui-Gon watched the seemingly young woman enter her tent, his mind racing and his heart pounding in his chest.

How did she know? What had he let slip through his defences in the last week? He allowed himself a tiny groan of self pity.

He was acutely aware of his attraction to his student, he had been for some time. He had watched Obi-Wan grown from a lanky child into the beautiful man that he was now. He knew every contour of that body, had every line etched permanently into his memory. He was also aware of the reaction his own body had to his padawan's new found manhood.

What if what Aryad'ni was correct. What if Obi-Wan did feel the same way about him. As impossible as it seemed Qui-Gon wanted it to be true more than anything else in the Universe. Could it be true? Did Obi-Wan feel the same desire he did?

Qui-Gon pulled himself to his feet, the camp fire now nothing more than a pile of glowing ash beside him. He needed to meditate and decide what he was going to do. By letting Obi-Wan know of his desire he risked pushing the young man away from him. By not letting him know he risked losing him completely.




They had been back on Coruscant two days now and Obi-Wan was beginning to wonder if he had done something wrong. Qui-Gon had been even more distant than usual. He had done little but meditate since their return and seemed reluctant to spend time in his company.

He was frowning as he walked the corridor that led to their shared quarters. He wasn't sure what he should do. If he had upset his Master in some way he wished he would tell him so he could try to make amends. Even the usual flow of emotions across their training bond had been tempered and his missed the feel of his Master in his mind. He felt empty and alone.

He palmed the door and crossed into the living area. Qui-Gon was sitting cross legged on the floor. His hands lose, his body relaxed. Obi-Wan thought he was beautiful and it made his heart ache further still.

Qui-Gon raised his head as his apprentice entered and the young man saw something, an undefined emotion, play across his Master's features before his face became composed once more.

"I trust you had a good day padawan?" Qui-Gon enquired.

Obi-Wan's frown depend and he stepped across so he was standing in front of the older man.

"Truthfully Master, no I have not." He could not carry on with this doubt and misery a moment longer.

Qui-Gon rose swiftly and gracefully to his feet and stood over his student. "Is there something wrong Obi-Wan?" He asked genuinely concerned.

"Yes Master. I would like to know what I have done wrong. I feel you backing away from me, closing off our bond, and I am at a loss to explain why. If I have made an error I would like to know what it is." His voice was as calm as he could manage but he kept his head bowed, not just in respect but also in fear of what he might see in his Master's eyes.

"Wrong?" Qui-Gon echoed the statement as if it were only occurring to him for the first time.

"Yes Master," Obi-Wan replied quietly.

Surprisingly Qui-Gon place a hand under his chin and raised his head to make eye contact. "You have done nothing wrong padawan, nothing at all. It is me that is at fault here not you. I apologise if my actions have caused you pain. I never intended them to."

Obi-Wan continued to frown. If it wasn't him that had caused this sudden withdrawal in his Master then what was it? What could Qui-Gon have possibly done that he thought himself at fault.

"Please Master, tell me what is troubling you. I only wish to help." Why was his skin tingling at the touch?

Qui-Gon stood for a long time, simply staring into the eyes of the man before him, his hand not leaving the underside of Obi-Wan's chin.

"Will you do something for me?" he asked of his student.

"Anything Master," came the instant reply.

"Open your mind to me. Let me see your true desires. Only then will I know what path I should go down."

"Master..." it wasn't a question but he could sense Obi-Wan's hesitation.

Obi-Wan was fixed on his Master's gaze. A part of him didn't want to open up so fully, was afraid to let him see the secret desire he held for him, fearing rejection. He shook himself mentally. Fear was not a thing a Jedi could hold onto. Making a conscious decision he let go of the fear and let his barriers fall slowly away from his mind.

Qui-Gon physically gasped as he saw into Obi-Wan's mind. Everything Aryad' ni had told him was true. In an instant he saw the love the young man had for him, the desire, the want. He saw himself through Obi-Wan's eyes and it made his heart sing.

"Now do you see?" Obi-Wan was asking him in a breathless whisper.

"Oh yes. Yes my beloved I do." Qui-Gon answered him and not wanting to waste another moment he lent forward and captured the young man's mouth in an achingly soft kiss.

The kiss turned from soft exploration to red hot desire in moments. He felt Obi-Wan's arms come up to clasp around his neck, pulling his body in against the taller man. Qui-Gon wrapped his own around the smaller body in response, crushing him closer still.

Clothes were shed across the floor as the stumbled towards the bedroom. Then finally they were both naked and they collapsed onto the bed together. Hands and mouths explored, tracing across familiar bodies in a completely new way.

It should have been awkward, they were new lovers, this was new territory, instead it was a discovery of pleasure. Qui-Gon sank back into the bed, letting his student take control. He wanted to feel Obi-Wan's love for him as much as Obi-Wan needed to prove it.

When the young man's hot mouth finally took possession of his raging erection he thought he was going to die from the sheer overload of pleasure. How, when, had his student leaned such techniques? It wasn't a complaint, yet he realised there was a whole side to his padawan that he knew nothing about. He was looking forward to discovering it for himself, and conducting a few lessons of his own.




6 Months Later.

Aryad'ni was on her hands and knees, pulling toys out from under one of the work benches. The last of her classes had finished for the day and she liked to leave the classroom tidy, ready for the first class in the morning to destroy it.

She heard the door open and felt a familiar presence surround her. She looked up and smiled at the two Jedi standing in the doorway.

"Good evening gentleman," she greeted climbing back to her feet. Even so the two men both towered over her.

"Good evening Aryad'ni," Obi-Wan returned with a warm smile.

"When did you get back?" She questioned them as she placed the last of the toys in their boxes.

"This morning," Qui-Gon informed her. "We thought you might like to join us for dinner?"

Aryad'ni nodded her agreement. "I would be delighted. Thank you."

She saw Obi-Wan exchange a look with his Master and the older man nodded in agreement. Aryad'ni was unsure quite what he was giving his padawan permission for until Obi-Wan took her hands in his own and turned her to face him.

"There is something else, something we wanted to discuss with you." He informed her.

She looked at him, slightly wary. The tension level in the room had just gone up a notch.

"We wanted to thank you for what you did for us. If you hadn't made Qui-Gon face up to his feelings we might never have experienced the joy of the last few months." He was teasing his Master slightly and although she couldn't see him, Aryad'ni could feel the older man's smile.

"It was my pleasure believe me. I am glad that things are settled between you, your happiness makes me happy." She assured them both although it was Obi-Wan's gaze she held.

"We know. However, we should still like to repay you somehow." Obi-Wan continued.

Aryad'ni took a step backwards as she realised what the young man was suggesting. However, she didn't get very far as she found herself backing into a solid wall that was suddenly behind her. A wall that was placing it's large warm hands on her shoulders.

"Repay me? How?" Was that really her voice, it sounded alien to her own ears.

A soft mouth spoke softly into her ear. "I think payment in kind is in order, don't you Obi-Wan?"

The young man still holding her hands smiled warmly. "Yes Master."

Aryad'ni felt her pulse step up a gear. 'Oh my' She thought to herself. 'I've died and gone to heaven.'

The End.