Of Nexus and Nobles: A Mission of Great Importance
Rating: M
Disclaimer: Sadly I don't own Star Wars. I would be so much happier (and richer) if I did.
Summary: Colonel Gennevi Lassiter agreed to spend her month long medical leave on Ossus with Kyp. She had no idea her short vacations would be so….eventful. AU K/OC, mentions of L/M, H/L, J/J
Author's Note: Hey all! This little gem is the love child of LexiLupin and myself. This is the sixth installment of her wonderful AU. You can find the other five stories on her profile page. Now, without further ado...

Chapter 1

It was snowing.

In the week since Gennevi Lassiter had arrived on Ossus with Kyp Durron and his daughter Leyla, the temperature had dropped from cold to colder; finally, on an afternoon that had begun with an eerie stillness in the air as low clouds settled over the Jedi temple, the first snowflakes had fallen and, by late afternoon, the grounds had a thorough dusting that was beautiful and easily admired from the top of the temple- which just so happened to be where Gennevi was standing.

And as she stood there, all but oblivious to the flakes clinging to her loose blonde hair and to her heavy cloak, it occurred to Gennevi that she had not seen it snow in a very long time.

At forty-two years old, Gennevi had spent more than half of her life in the cold darkness of space- a very different sort of cold from that which chilled the temple grounds. Parts of it were a blur, after almost a quarter-century- at eighteen, she'd enlisted the same year that the New Republic had signed a peace treaty with the remnants of the Empire; six years later, fresh out of her officer's basic training, the Yuuzhan Vong had begun the systematic devastation that they wrought over the galaxy in the ensuing five years.

At twenty-six, she'd been awarded her first command- a thorough and efficient starfighter squadron that segued into a new life for her, and she spent the next sixteen years in a constant state of forming, training, or perfecting other such units as the need arose- most recently, the six-month-old Trinity squadron attached to the flagship of the GA Fourth Fleet, Admiral Gavin Darklighter's Trucemaker.

And then two weeks ago, through her own stupidity, she'd suffered some internal ocular trauma that, while it did not affect her vision directly, potentially affected her ability to adequately perform in combat. This resulted in the granting of a month of medical leave, more for the time to think over her future than for any true recovery; because if one thing was certain, it was that her career was about to change drastically.

That explained, in the most general of senses, what Gennevi was doing on the planet Ossus, watching her first snowfall in some twenty-four or more years.

What it, perhaps, did not explain was the giggling four-year-old boy who was trying- and failing utterly- to sneak up on her.

Humoring the, quite frankly, adorable Naviin Fel, she maintained her steadfast pose, well away from the edge of the roof, eyes darting about shiftily as she wondered who had brought the toddler up here. She could guess easily enough why though- if she was this enthused to see and feel the snowfall, then surely the mind of so young a child would be doubly enthralled.

With a last little leap and an impressive imitation of a growl, the toddler attacked her legs and she gave an exaggerated shriek and leapt backwards, before turning to see the scene being regarded wryly by Naviin's older half-sister, Leyla. Looking back around and down at the young boy, she smiled easily as she took in his bundled form, his pink cheeks and nose, and the bright hazel eyes that were the only parts of his form not swathed in a coat, gloves, and hat.

"Well aren't you just a ferocious beast?" she asked, grinning.

"I'm a nexu!" he declared proudly.

Her face fell. "Oh, dear. Then I suppose I don't have much chance of surviving this attack, do I?"

"Nope!" he smiled broadly up at her as his hat slipped down over his eyes. "I already hunted Leelee."

The girl in question came alongside Gennevi and just shook her head. "So you did."

"And what are you?" Gennevi asked dryly. "An eopie, perhaps?"

Leyla turned and fixed her with a serious, even stare. "A Jedi."

She snorted with laughter. "Well then- if a Jedi can't fend off this fearsome nexu, then I surely have no chance whatsoever."

"No, no," Leyla assured her, "you might still have a chance- if only our Jedi Master nexu-hunter would get here to save the day…" she called the last three words a bit louder and then paused, eyes shifting around until she smirked down at her little brother. "You're in for it now, Navi."

He shrieked and darted to her, clinging to her legs, moments before Kyp came swaggering confidently across the rooftop. "You seem to have lost your apprentice," Gennevi informed him dryly.

"A useless thing, if she can't even defend herself properly against the creature!" he declared, sidling behind Gennevi to go around Leyla, even as Naviin circled Leyla's legs in an effort to remain shielded from him. With a speedy dive though, Kyp snagged his arm, Naviin shrieked- and then they both tumbled to the rooftop as Kyp slipped on a wet patch of melted snow.

Laughing triumphantly, Naviin clambered up to sit on Kyp's chest and crossed his arms. "I win." He paused. "And you have snow in your hair."

The downed Jedi Master reached out and tweaked his little pink nose. "And you, my fearsome little creature, are going to get so frostbitten that I have to amputate your nose with my lightsaber. Or perhaps Leyla could do it, she needs some practice…"

With a squeak, Naviin shot up, but Leyla snagged him before he could take off, even as Kyp got to his feet again. "Come on, you," she straightened his hat and pulled it back down over his ears. "I promised I'd have you dried and warmed up again before dinner."

"But it's still snowing!" he protested, sticking out his tongue and squinting his eyes as he tilted his head back in an effort to catch a flake.

"And even the most vicious of nexus must eat their dinner," Leyla said firmly. "Come on- you can tell dad all about how you took down both a Jedi and her Master in one hunt."

"Didn't get Evi," he scowled and narrowed his eyes up at the highly amused colonel.

Kyp grinned charmingly down at him. "Then I guess she wins this one. Maybe tomorrow, Navi."

"Fine," he grumbled. "I can practice pouncing tonight."

Before they walked away, Kyp leaned down closer to Leyla's ear. "You go get warmed up yourself," he murmured with a hint of sternness. "You're technically still on the mend, don't go getting yourself sick." She rolled her eyes, though the act lacked any real annoyance. "Now go on, before Naviin forgets about his concession to actually go inside."

She laughed and did as told, leaving Kyp and Gennevi standing alone on top of the temple- which, judging from the mischievous smirk on his face, had been Kyp's design the whole time. "You know," he schooled his expression to one of utter seriousness, "if I'm to have a chance in tomorrow's hunt, I should probably do some practicing of my own tonight…"

"Oh?" she fixed him with a calculating look. "Shall I be the damsel in distress and you'll be the Jedi Master, rescuing me from all manner of evil attackers? The Great Kyp Durron: ladies' man, man's man, man about the galaxy."

His eyes twinkled. " Hardly. I thought that you'd be the damsel in distress, and I'd be the nexu pouncing on you."

"Ah- I see. I'm not entirely sure what benefit I'm to gain from that little scenario, my dear Master Durron."

He stalked towards her in a remarkably predator-like fashion. "I'm sure you'll come up with something."

And he seized her and pulled her to him, crushing his mouth to hers and warming her cold lips with his warmer ones- and sending a little warming tingle through her that had nothing to do with the weather. His gloved hands cupped her face gently, warming her cheeks even as snow continued to fall and dampen her hair. A vague part of her mind- the practical part, she supposed- wondered if there weren't dozens of places better suited for this; either of their quarters in the temple below came immediately to mind.

But it was snowing and beautiful outside, and it'd been so long since she'd seen snow falling, and even swathed in weather-appropriate heavy cloak, boots, and gloves, with snowflakes decorating his hair and the tip of his nose before they melted, there was something about Kyp that was just so…

"Kyp?"

She started and jerked away; at the same moment, he turned slowly and growled low his throat before asking in a deadly calm and controlled voice, "Yes, Mara?"

Based upon the mischievous glint in the older woman's eyes, she knew exactly what she'd interrupted even before she'd walked out onto the roof from the exit on the side opposite that in which Leyla and Naviin had just departed.

"Just wondered if you'd seen Leyla and Naviin- Jaina's looking for them."

"They went," he pointed, maintaining the same tone, "that way. As I suspect you were full well-aware."

Mara Jade Skywalker's answering smirk fully nullified the affected innocence in her eyes. "Thanks," she smiled sweetly, and headed across to the other door. "Oh- hi, Gennevi," she said as she walked past, as if she hadn't seen her before now, "enjoying the weather?"

"I think I was about to," she murmured softly.

Mara's grin widened, her sharp green eyes dancing merrily even as Kyp went a wonderful shade of red that was only partially due to the cold air. "By all means then," she called as she went through the other door, "carry on."

"Thanks," Kyp muttered sarcastically, though the red-haired woman was well out of ear-shot. "Now," he did a quick probe in the Force to check for other such ambushes before deeming it safe and seizing Gennevi once more. "Where were we?"

Once the cold on the temple's rooftop became too much to bear, regardless of how much blood flow other activities encouraged, Kyp and Gennevi retreated into the warmth of the building. As soon as the heat of the building began to warm her skin, Gennevi realized that she was hungry; in fact she was near starving. It was interesting how such basic needs were neglected when there were other, more primal considerations to take in to account. Surely she wasn't the only woman who got a little distracted when there was a hot-blooded male body pressed against her own. Especially when said body came with a pair of the most talented lips she had had the pleasure of experiencing as of late. But now those lips were gone and her body was screaming at her for food.

"The dining hall shouldn't be too crowded yet," Kyp informed her as they approached the turbolift that would take them down several floors to the dining hall and other common areas.

"Are you reading my thoughts, Master Durron?" Gennevi asked.

Kyp turned to her, brandishing an innocent smile. "Would I do such a thing?" Gennevi merely raised an eyebrow in silent retort. "Okay, so maybe I would, but only when necessary. And actually I wasn't snooping, you were projecting." Leaning his face down so his lips were a mere breath away from her ear, Kyp whispered, "Hunger wasn't the only emotion you were projecting."

And shavit there was that annoying blush racing up her neck to color her cheeks. Luckily, should anyone notice and have the gall to comment on such, she could easily blame her coloring on a recent change in temperature.

"Is that so?" She felt Kyp's breath against her neck as he agreed. And suddenly his hands were on her hips, pressing her body back against the duracrete wall, as his lips crashed to hers. Gennevi's hands, now sans gloves, cupped his face and traced the Jedi Master's strong cheekbones. It took a great deal of resolve, honed over years of military service and a lifetime of difficult choices, to not wrap her legs around Kyp's frame. After all they were still in a very public place and frankly being interrupted once today had been more than enough.

"Kyp." The word came out as more of a moan than anything else, which prompted the man in question to continue his assault on her neck while one hand drifted to her backside, pulling their bodies even closer.

"Kyp…stop." The second his lips left her skin, Gennevi missed them.

"Stop? Gotta admit that wasn't what I was expecting to hear," he grinned breathlessly. He could feel the lust rolling off her in waves, yet she was stopping them; it just didn't make sense.

"I hate to say it," Gennevi admitted, "but we are in the middle of a hallway here. And after Mara…"

"Say no more," Kyp sighed. Reluctantly he pulled himself away and took a deep breath to calm his racing pulse. 'There is only so much that relaxation techniques can accomplish,' he thought wryly. "You want to head down to the dining hall now?"

Gennevi pushed herself off the wall and grabbed Kyp's arm. "No."

"No?" Gennevi nodded, confusing Kyp even further. "All right…I'm lost. You're not hungry anymore?"

"Oh I'm hungry." If she wasn't so serious at the moment, Gennevi would have laughed at the exasperated look on Kyp's face. Instead of explaining, she ran her hands slowly down his chest until she hit the stiff fabric of his utility belt. Grabbing the belt and using it to tug his body against hers, Gennevi stood on her toes to bring her mouth to his ear. "I'm just not hungry for food, Kyp."

Kyp's smile could only be described as victorious. "I think I can help with that."

The trek from the turbolift to Kyp's temporary quarters had never taken longer; even if it was barely a minute later when the pair stumbled through the door. It scarcely had time to close behind them before Gennevi's back was pressed against it as Kyp's lips attacked her own. While his lips were otherwise occupied, Kyp's hands set to work removing her coat, pushing the garment off her shoulders and allowing Gennevi to shrug out of it. Kyp's cloak soon followed as well as his tunic and Gennevi's top and pants. When her back touched the door the second time, her body clad only in her undergarments, a chill ran up Gennevi's spine.

"Ugh…cold," she mumbled between heated kisses. "Bed…now."

Kyp nodded in agreement and with a quick move picked Gennevi, and nearly ran across the small sitting area toward the bedroom. He deposited her on his bed and crawled in beside her. The pair took up their favorite position, lying on their sides facing one another, their bodies close but not touching. They'd spent numerous nights in this position before, talking and kissing until they fell asleep. It wasn't new territory, but at the same time it was since both were certain that tonight held more in store than shared secrets and stolen kisses.

"This is stupid," Gennevi chuckled after a long silence spent staring at the man across from her. "We're acting like a pair of teenagers, scared out of our minds."

Kyp kissed her. "I am scared out of my mind."

"Why?"

"Because I care about you…a lot, and I don't want to screw this up."

His eyes bore into hers and in that moment Gennevi knew that she was falling hard for Kyp Durron. He had found a way to fill a hole that she didn't know existed and it scared her just how right everything felt. In her experience that's usually when things fell apart, because when you were content was when the universe decided to shake things up.

"Hey," Kyp hissed, "don't think that way."

"What did I tell you about reading my thoughts?" she asked, pulling Kyp against her. The kiss was meant to be chaste, but soon took on a life of its own.

Kyp's hands pushed the straps of Gennevi's bra down her arms leaving trails of goose bumps in their wake. As soon as the hindrance was removed his hands were on her, ghosting over her ribs and cupping her breasts. His kisses moved from her mouth across her jaw and down her neck before settling on her collar bone. Gennevi shivered as he found the sensitive spot where her neck and shoulder met, which of course Kyp noticed and exploited.

Not being one to take things lying down, Gennevi bent her knee, shifted her weight, and quickly moved herself on top of Kyp. At his questioning look, she shrugged her shoulders and grinned. "I couldn't let you have all the fun."

The now stunned Jedi Master stared up at her with a look of amusement, surprise, and incredible desire. His hands slid up her thighs, fingers skimming the soft material of her underwear before hooking his fingertips in the waistband. He started to pull the garment down when Gennevi's hands wrapped around his wrists.

"Not so fast," her voice was a husky whisper, "my turn." Leaning forward, Gennevi pinned Kyp's hands above his head, gasping when he seized the opportunity to wrap his lips around her nipple. With a loud moan and great unwillingness, she pulled his mouth away and kissed his lips. Her lips continued down his chest, placing soft loving kisses across his broad chest, down to his hip bones until the fabric of his boxers stopped her progress. Gennevi made quick work of the garment, tossing it aside, before seizing her prize.

"Sweet Force," Kyp growled the second Gennevi's hand wrapped around him. He knew he wouldn't last long as riled up as he was, so he stopped her ministrations after a few minutes. He pulled her upward, bringing her hand to his lips and kissing each finger in turn. Kyp shifted his weight, pressing Gennevi onto her back and coming to hover over her. He kissed her lips as he slid her last remaining piece of clothing from her and added it to the ever growing pile strewn across the floor. His eyes took in the sight before him. "Absolutely beautiful." A faint blush rose to the colonel's cheeks before she could will it away. "I want you so much, Gennevi."

"You have me, Kyp. Take me."

Kyp's fingers teased her folds, finding her more than ready, but he was unwilling to let such an opportunity pass. He pushed a finger inside her while his thumb sought out her clit. Her entire body trembled at the sensation, spurring Kyp on. He added a second finger and continued pumping them inside her.

"Kyp," Gennevi growled. "For the love of all things sacred!" She gasped and moaned as his finger flicked across the bundle of nerves. "Foreplay is great but…I need you. Please!"

Kyp smiled and kissed her as he settled himself between her legs. His mouth was securely latched over hers as he slid within her. His body remained stock still for a few seconds, enjoying the new sensations, before setting a slow and deliberate pace, her body welcoming his time and time again.

"Kyp," Gennevi groaned, thanking the Force or whatever deity was listening that the visitor's wing was nearly deserted as her cries rose in volume. "Gods, Kyp."

"You," he grunted, "are …amazing." Kyp's pace picked up quickly. He knew that he wouldn't be able to hold out much longer and instead focused on bringing his partner into bliss with him. A change in the angle of his thrusts earned Kyp a loud groan and what he assumed to be a string of curses in a language he didn't understand.

Her hands gripped Kyp's shoulders as their bodies moved together. The temperature in the room had risen noticeably and both Kyp and Gennevi wore a thin veil of sweat from their lovemaking. She could feel her muscles tightening throughout her body and she knew her orgasm was fast approaching.

Kyp felt it as well. "Close?" he rasped.

Gennevi nodded, not trusting her ability to speak at the moment. "Want you…with me," she managed to get out.

"I am," he promised, increasing the speed of his thrusts. Kyp knew he wouldn't be able to last much longer. He hadn't been with a woman in…longer than he cared to think about at the moment. When Gennevi threw her head back and cried out his name, Kyp nearly lost it. He changed his motion, pushing deeper and deeper into her body. Gennevi whispered softly in his ear and Kyp felt his toes curl. All of his muscles tensed before he shuddered in release. Rapid movements slowed and eventually stopped before he rolled onto his back, pulling Gennevi with him.

Kyp's rapid heartbeat pounded in Gennevi's ear as her head lay on his chest. Her hand rested against his ribs, fingers tracing unseen patterns on his skin. A deep sigh drew her attention. "You okay?" she panted.

"Never better."

Raising her head, Gennevi looked at him with a lopsided grin. "Your heart's beating pretty fast. Sure you're not going to have a heart attack on me?"

Kyp laughed. "I'm sure. My pulse tends to race when I have a beautiful woman in my arms."

"And the fact that said woman is naked and pressed against you?"

"That might have an impact." He captured her lips in a soft kiss before the comfortable silence took over. Kyp's hand tangled itself in Gennevi's loose curls, twisting a stray piece between his fingers. "You know…I'm still pretty hungry."

Gennevi laughed. "Typical man: always thinking about food. Do you want to head down to the dining hall?"

"In a bit," he said. "I just want to lay here for a while."

Gennevi smiled and laid her head back on Kyp's chest. "I'm okay with that."

X-X-X-X

By the time Naviin finished his long and rambling tale of his afternoon playing in the snow and mauling whatever unfortunate passersby fell victim to his nexu impersonations, Jag was nodding and smiling indulgently while shooting furtive, bemused glances at Jaina periodically. Leyla was looking mildly wearied, quite possibly due to the exhaustion of chasing after her little brother all afternoon.

"Eat your tarsh, Navi," Jaina eyed him sternly, "it's going to get cold."

He obediently put a huge spoonful into his mouth, chewed intently for a long minute, then swallowed with effort… and then continued telling his story.

"And then we found Evi on the roof, but Kyp saved her before I could finish staking-"

"Stalking," Leyla murmured correctively.

"-stalking her," Naviin continued without missing a beat, "but then he fell down so I won, and Leelee said we had to come back inside before I could stalk Evi again."

Jaina smiled as Naviin gave a practice growl, and then attacked his tarsh with a renewed vigor. "You forget how fun babysitting could be?" she asked Leyla teasingly.

"He didn't used to wear me out so much," she murmured back softly.

Her mother's smile broadened a bit mischievously. "Well, we get to turn the tables a bit tomorrow- Kyp's offered to watch him for a couple hours while we're all busy- yes, you have to go to lessons, you can't just sit around doing nothing while you're here- so it'll be fun to see just how well he keeps up with a four-year-old. After all, Kyp isn't getting any younger…"

Leyla blinked and looked away, thinking, her memory jogged of a conversation from a month prior.

"You aren't old."

"Leyla, I'm going to be fifty in a matter of weeks."

Well, it had certainly been a matter of weeks- about six- and Kyp hadn't mentioned turning fifty. Then again, as Leyla thought about it, she couldn't remember ever noting one of his birthdays; in fact, the more she thought about it… it seemed like it was a subject he'd almost… avoided in the past.

With a wry smirk, she supposed then that it was his bad luck for bringing this one up.

"Mom," she said quietly a few minutes later as Jag went about clearing the table after freeing Naviin from his booster chair, "do you know when Kyp's birthday is?"

Jaina frowned thoughtfully, then pursed her lips and shook her head. "I really don't, I'm sorry. Why, does he have one coming up?"

Leyla shrugged. "He mentioned in passing that it would be soon, but that was about a month ago- but you do realize how old he'll be turning this year, right?"

The frown faded off of Jaina's face- and was immediately replaced by a wicked grin.

"Fifty?"

"Fifty."

The scheming and plotting were already well underway before either of them went to bed that night.

Well, what do you think? Be sure to review and let us know!