This story takes place over the course of about ten months. It starts immediately after my previous story, "Til Death Do Us Part" (set two years before The Phantom Menace), jumping forward six months and eventually ends around fourteen months before The Phantom Menace.

Trial By Fyre

One woman's fight against the rules...A Twi'lek's desperate search for her family.

CHAPTER ONE

The Republic Cruiser sped towards Coruscant, its Jedi occupants tired from recent events. Chae stared blankly at the floor, not listening or paying any attention to what was going on around her. Members of the crew glanced at her sympathetically, then continued with their work. Chae felt so guilty about Omar Organa's death, even though she knew it wasn't her fault. She felt so incredibly alone, a depression hanging over her like a huge dark cloud. Life could be so cruel, the future so uncertain and, at times, completely unfair. Qui-Gon returned from the ship's cockpit and looked at his daughter. He sighed gently. He knelt down in front of her and lifted her head up to face him. Chae had been crying again, he could tell.

"Chae, my dear child...please don't beat yourself up like this," Qui-Gon said gently, stroking a strand of hair away from her face. "There was nothing you could do, Omar chose the Darkside-"

"Please, father, I don't want to talk about it," Chae whimpered, cutting him short. The pain that name caused was still too raw to cope with, and being stranded on Tatooine for two days before a Republic Cruiser had been able to come and collect them hadn't helped. Plo Koon had taken Obi-Wan to a republic friendly medical facility on the other side of Mos Espa and, luckily, was strong enough to travel when the ship arrived. At least that was something Chae thought.

The cruiser docked. Qui-Gon took hold of Chae's hands and gently pulled her to her feet. "Well get through this together," Qui-Gon said.

The Jedi walked down the ramp on to the landing pad. Chae clung to Qui-Gon's arm, as if he would disappear if she let go. Up ahead Chae could see Obi-Wan being stretchered off to the medical unit, Plo Koon and Asia not far behind. They turned to see the Mon Calamarian nurse standing not far from the entrance way of the Jedi Temple. It was the nurse Chae had run away from and she looked very annoyed.

"I thought I told you to stay put? You shouldn't be running off in your condition!" The nurse didn't look very impressed.

Chae gave her a quizzical look. "How do you mean 'in my condition'?" Then it suddenly dawned on her. "Wait...you're not trying to say I'm-"

"Yes you are with child now, and you really should be resting", the nurse told her, "rushing around trying to save the universe isn't good for you!"

The shock hit her like a meteorite. Chae struggled to take the news in. She had seen her fiancé turn to the Darkside and get killed before her very eyes, only then to find out she was now carrying his child. At least that explained why she had felt unwell when she had returned from Naboo. She looked at Qui-Gon but was unable to bring herself to say anything. He didn't say anything, instead he just held her tight. Her legs felt so weak that she was grateful for her father's support.

Obi-Wan stirred and blinked his eyes. The blur of lights and colours slowly merged in together and Obi-Wan realised he was in the Jedi Temple's medical room. He then realised he wasn't alone, he turned his head and saw Plo Koon sitting at his bedside.

"How do you feel?" Plo Koon asked.

Obi-wan tried to speak but his throat felt dry and his head hurt, it felt like somebody was constantly hitting him around the head with a blunt heavy object. He struggled to remember what had happened. It had something to do with a search for Omar...Tatooine...Chae! Oh Chae, Obi-Wan thought to himself, what is it about you?

Just as he was letting his mind wander, Chae appeared at the door way. Obi-Wan's heart leapt. Chae ran forward and hugged Obi-Wan. Obi-Wan tried to return the hug as best as he could, but he still felt weak. Much to everyone's surprise, especially Obi-Wan's, Chae cupped his face in her hands and kissed him.

"I'm so glad you're alive, I was so worried about you", Chae said, fighting to hold back her tears.

Obi-Wan managed to crack a smile. "Hey you," he said, putting his hand on her cheek. "What's the tears for?"

Chae shook her head. "I'm not sure, perhaps it's just my hormones." Obi-Wan looked at her, puzzled. He'd never been that clued up as regards to such things when it came to women. "I'm pregnant," she told him, putting her hand on her tummy. "It's Omar's child".

Obi-Wan felt his stomach drop. Chae was pregnant and the father was the man he had been forced to kill before he took Obi-Wan's life. Obi-Wan felt so bad for Chae and what he had done, he wanted to say something but he couldn't find the right words.

"It's okay you don't need to say anything," Chae whispered. "I don't hate you for what happened." She paused, "it had to be done I guess. Otherwise we probably wouldn't be here having this conversation."

Plo Koon suddenly spoke up, startling Obi-Wan, who had forgotten he was there. "Of course, the council will not be pleased about this. They didn't approve of your relationship with Omar in the first place. It breaks the code."

Chae wanted to hit back but she couldn't face being rude to her master. She hadn't chosen to fall in love with Omar, nor had she planned to get pregnant. She remained silent and gripped Obi-Wan's hand, refusing to make any eye contact with him. But then Plo Koon put a kind hand on her shoulder and said "but then you never were one for rules, were you?" Chae looked up and smiled.

Later that day, Obi-Wan was allowed to leave the medical room and Chae had gone back to her apartment. Asia was already there, she was so pleased to see her friend and was very surprised to hear that her best friend was having a baby. The two of them sat down and Asia ran off to the kitchen to fix two glasses of blue milk for them. They talked long into the evening. Asia couldn't believe the story when Chae had finished, but then she had missed most of the action no thanks to Omar jumping Asia when her back had been turned back when they were on Tatooine when onboard the ship.

"Omar, a Dark Jedi? I can't believe it!" Asia gasped. "He seemed so nice, so charming..." Asia noticed Chae was becoming distressed. "Oh, Chae," she said. Asia leant forward and cuddled her friend.

Chae pulled herself from Asia's arms and glanced at the engagement ring Omar had given her. She remembered that day, the day he had proposed to her. The two of them had been studying in the Jedi library when Omar had sneaked Chae behind a high bookcase at the back of the library, out of sight of the other Jedi, and had proposed to her. Chae had been gob smacked, but said yes, despite the fact she knew she was breaking several Jedi rules just by accepting his proposal. That night Chae hadn't bothered to return to her own apartment, but had spent that night with Omar. It occurred to Chae that her child had probably been conceived that night, especially considering that had been the one and only time that they had been together.

Chae stood up and walked over to the balcony, opened the glass doors and walked out over to the railings. It was a balmy, beautiful evening, the sky was glowing a moody shade of red. Chae pulled off the ring and took a deep breath. She stretched out her arm over the railings and dropped the ring, letting it fall to the depths of the city planet below. Asia just watched, unable to say a word. She didn't feel it was her place to interfere.

A few weeks later, Chae and Obi-Wan had some free time so they decided to wander around Coruscant together. Chae was now three months pregnant and beginning to show signs of a bump. They held hands as they walked around the local market, and spoke with locals. Many people commented on how beautiful she was looking. They stopped for drinks at an out door café. Without their hooded robes or lightsabers, nobody knew they were Jedi so they weren't given any hassle.

"It's good to see you smile for once," Obi-Wan commented, as the droid came over with their drinks.

Chae smiled shyly, glancing at the table then looked back up, looking into Obi-Wan's eyes. "I want to move on, I have a child to worry about now," Chae replied. "The meditation father taught me has helped too."

Obi-Wan returned the smile. He watched Chae as she adjusted her utility belt. He still couldn't get over how beautiful she was. Her long dark hair which, on this day, she was wearing down. It swept all the way down to her waist, a strand straying across her face. It was obvious that Chae had allowed Asia to style it, as Obi-Wan noticed some pink and purple ribbon braids. Chae's bright emerald green eyes glowed. They were the type of eyes that could melt even the meanest of hearts.

Chae could feel he was staring at her and met his gaze again. With a grin, she added "there's no way that I'll be able to wear this much longer. I wonder if they do maternity Jedi robes?" Chae tugged at one of her black Jedi cat suit shoulder straps as she said it.

At the comment Obi-Wan laughed. It was just like Chae to make a joke about her pregnancy and the impending weight gain, especially when he knew she wasn't a vain person and wasn't ever likely to be either.

Six months later...

Chae felt uselessly tired. She'd been in labour for seventy two hours and was desperate for it to be over. She squeezed Qui-Gon's hand, as another painful contraction came, and pushed hard. She tried to use the Force to numb the pain but it didn't work very well. Chae couldn't concentrate.

"Just one more, Chae, just one more," the midwife told her.

Chae was beginning to regret refusing the pain killing drugs the birth team had offered. But Chae had wanted a natural birth with no drugs. In any case, it was too late in the delivery for drugs. Chae pushed as hard as her remaining strength would let her. She could hear a child crying, it was over, the child was born. Chae collapsed back on to the bed, she wanted to sleep.

The midwife gave Chae her baby. "You have a little girl." Chae smiled weakly and took hold of the tiny infant in her arms.

Obi-Wan and Asia were sitting outside and was desperate to see Chae. They had been waiting there for the entire birth. Both were weary through lack of sleep, but they had spent so much of the past three days worrying for Chae that neither of them had felt like sleeping much. The nurse came out and told them that Chae had had a girl.

"Can we see her?" Asia asked, almost jumping up and down with enthusiasm.

The nurse glanced back to meet Chae's gaze, to which Chae nodded. "Go on then," the nurse said and she side-stepped out of the way of the door.

Asia dashed in, but Obi-Wan held back for a second. He wasn't sure how he would handle this. He cared for Chae, and the thought of her having another man's child pained him. The nurse gave him a funny look. Obi-Wan smiled sheepishly and walked into the room.

"So, how does it feel to be a grandfather?" Asia asked Qui-Gon.

Qui-Gon laughed. "It makes me feel very old."

Before anyone could say anything else, Bail Organa suddenly entered the room. Chae raised her head slightly from the pillow as her Jedi companions glanced round. What did he want? Obi-Wan was instantly suspicious. Why had Bail Organa turned up now? He hadn't bothered to contact Chae after Omar's death, he hadn't spoken to her at the funeral or bothered to have anything to do with her during her pregnancy.

"I would like to speak with miss Chae Jinn," Organa requested, far too politely for Obi-Wan's liking.

Asia stepped forward. "With respect, sir, Chae has only just given birth. Is there any chance this could wait?"

Bail Organa considered the young Twi'lek for a moment, then smiled. "It can wait. I'm here for a few days anyway." With that, he left.

"What does he want?" Obi-Wan spat.

Qui-Gon shot him a look, he then turned back to Chae and his expression softened. "Forget Organa, he does not hold the rights to ruin this moment for us". He looked down fondly at the new-born, cradled in the arms of his daughter. "You have grown so much, Chae. You have so much strength. I'm very proud of you".

"Thank you, Daddy." They kissed each other's cheek, then Qui-Gon stepped back. She reminded him of Fyre the day Chae had been born. "Here you are 'Granddad', hold your grandchild". She handed the infant to his large gentile hands.

"And what, may I ask, is the little one's name?"

"Fyre; in honour of mother".

Qui-Gon smiled warmly at the baby.

Asia kneeled by the bed. "I have a present for Fyre". She placed a wrapped bundle on to Chae's lap. Chae untied the strings and held up a baby sized cowl and headband complete with fake head tentacles! Chae and Asia burst out laughing, until tears were on their cheeks and even Qui-Gon had to chuckle at the ridiculousness of it. Chae tried to regain her breath.

"Boy, I needed that. Thanks Asia. I'm sure your niece will love it."

"Niece?"

"Asia, we're sisters in every way but blood. Don't try to get out of it now." Asia was so honoured she couldn't say anything and just hugged Chae.

All this time Obi-Wan had stayed further away from Chae than the others, pretending to admire the one small congratulatory flower Plo Koon had sent. Qui-Gon's shoulders relaxed with a certain understanding and he suggested that he and Asia see to it that Fyre would be properly cared for as Chae rested. A feeble excuse, but Asia followed the Jedi Master without question. Once they had left the room, Obi-Wan walked slowly to Chae's bedside, stopping a few metres away from her, as if he were a child afraid of stepping into a dark room. She patted the bed, offering him a seat.

"Come now, Obi-Wan, I'm still the Chae you scold, meditate and argue with. Having a baby doesn't make me a stranger." He took her offer and sat down, taking one of her hands in both of his. He hadn't looked her in the eye yet. Caressing her hand, he placed her palm on his lips. When he spoke, it was barely above a whisper.

"I will always be here for you." Before he could continue, the nurse droid had returned, interrupting his declaration of his feelings for her. It announced to Obi-Wan that visiting hours were over. Chae gave his hand a squeeze. He left as the droid ordered and went to look for Qui-Gon and Asia.

He found the two of them observing the infant from the other side of the flexiglass pane. Several other babies, some human, most alien, were also there. Each squirming and waving their arms, legs and in some cases tails as much as they could. Qui-Gon stood very relaxed, Obi-Wan observed, but Asia seemed not altogether present. She seemed to be daydreaming. The thought soon left his mind as he saw Chae and Omar's daughter in her designated crib. How much of her father did that baby have in her?

"We are more than the sum of our parts, Obi-Wan," Qui-Gon said suddenly. Obi-Wan shifted uncomfortably, realising his thoughts must have been very strong for Qui-Gon to sense them. Asia did not seem to hear the comment.

TBC...