Ten years. It had been ten years to the day since Qui-Gon Jinn had been killed on Naboo, and for Tyln Dooku, the pain was still fresh.
The Count kept himself locked in his room at his manor on Serenno, ordering that he be left alone. He searched through his belongings, finding all holos he had with Qui-Gon in them, whether they were pictures, recordings, or holo-vids, he grabbed them all. He picked up the small box that he had shoved into the back of his closet. He hesitated for a moment then opened it.
The charm necklace was just as he remembered it; the simple silver chain and the stone pendant, made from a stone from the River of Light on Qui-Gon's homeworld.
He lifted the necklace and gently fingered the stone, almost carressing it. Noting how dirty it was, he wiped it with a corner of his cape until it was the deep, vivid blue he remembered.
Qui-Gon had one just like it, and Yoda had confirmed to him, before he left, after Qui-Gon's things were packed away, that the necklace had not been found among his things, so Qui-Gon must have been wearing it.
Dooku, unable to face the pain the necklace brought, had then shoved it away into his closet. It had remained there for the past ten years.
The Count cleaned the chain, looked at the necklace, hesitated, then put it on. He spent the day going through all the things and holos he had of Qui-Gon.
It was late at night, when he finally sat silently in his room.
"This wasn't supposed to happen," he said softly, though there was no one else in his room.
His silver head rested on his aged, callous hand, and he sighed.
"Oh, Qui-Gon, this wasn't how it was supposed to be. You weren't supposed to die, not yet. You were supposed to knight Obi-Wan and see him take his first Padawan. You were supposed to out live me, not the other way around."
Tears welled up in the Count's dark eyes.
"You shouldn't have died yet."
A single tear broke free, slid down his cheek, and was lost in his beard.
"You were never supposed to die before me, Qui-Gon."
He finally let himself cry and broke down.
"Qui-Gon! Why did you have to die? Why?"
His sobs shook his powerful build.
"I need you, Qui-Gon! I need you!"
He eventually cried himself to sleep.
A tall, bluish, slightly-transparent figure appeared and looked down at the sleeping Count.
Master Qui-Gon Jinn smiled tenderly at his former Master. He weaved a pleasant dream for his teacher and watched Dooku slowly relaxed in his sleep. He remained there for the rest of the night, watching over the Count.
The next morning, neither the Count nor his servants would ever suspect that they had been visited by a Jedi from beyond the grave. A Jedi from beyond the grave who had stayed all night, guarding his Master.