There was something slimy about this guy, Carth didn't like him one bit, or maybe he just didn't like the way he was hitting on Andi. He had been very protective of her of late, and he'd be damned if he wasn't going to teach this jerk to back off.

Either way, he had just about enough of it; he grabbed Tanis by his shirt collar."Hey! You better talk to her with a bit of respect in your voice or you're going to end this conversation minus a few teeth, Got it?!"

Andi's face turned bright Red and she stepped back. Carth dropped Tanis and turned to face her, "C'mon beautiful, I think we're done here. Let's sell that wraid plate to Fazza and leave." She nodded, lost for words, and started towards the Ithorian. He followed close behind her, it was time that he tell her how he felt. The conversation with that coreslime Tanis made him realize how badly he needed to protect her.

Andi was finally done talking to the ithorian and turned to face Carth "It seems we need a hunting license to sell this thing… He pointed me in the direction of the Czerka offices that sell them, so I think we should try to get one before we continue."

"Let's get going then." As they exited the hunting lodge together, Carth grabbed her shoulder.

"Wait Andi, There's something I have to tell you."

Her face flushed red, was she blushing or was it just the heat? He couldn't decide, but he also couldn't hide what he felt any longer, not after that scum in the lodge was talking to her like that, letting his eye wander where they shouldn't. He tried to suppress his angry thoughts, this was important damnit.

"What's this about flyboy?"

She smiled, maybe a little too much; it seems she was always smiling around him nowadays. Not that he minded, it was nice to see her happy, it made him happy too… He cleared his throat and stood up straight while placing both his hands on her shoulders.

"It's about you, I've been worried about you, I've been keeping these thoughts to myself but I think it's time I said something."

She hesitated and wondered where he was taking this."You've been keeping something to yourself?" she asked cautiously.

"You've come a long way, and you're one of the most skilled women i've ever met,"He started "But I just can't help but feel that something isn't right, it's like there's darkness waiting for its chance to turn you. I can't let that happen, I want to protect you, if you would let me."

"Protect me? From what Carth, I'm not helpless, I mean… I'm a Jedi!"

"I know, you're a strong woman and I realize that I'm not the strongest of men or the best fighter but… I just feel like the Jedi didn't tell us everything. I have to protect you beautiful, I... I can't lose you like I lost my wife. I care for you Andi, I care for you a lot more than I should, and if you will let me, I want to protect you. From yourself, from the sith, from whatever else stands in our way. You have to let me try. Please."

He looked her dead in the eye, and noticed how her expression softened as he confessed what he felt. He wanted to tell her he loved her but, he couldn't, not yet. It was too soon, he never thought he'd ever feel this way ever again. Yet here he was, getting mad over some scumbag hitting on her and vowing to protect her no matter what.

"You… You care you me?"

"I do, you are a beautiful, extraordinary woman and you make me think I might have some purpose beyond revenge. Will you let me protect you? I don't know if this means anything to you, but it does to me…"

"It means a lot to me Carth, Thank you."

She was smiling brighter than ever, he wanted to lean down and kiss her, and he found himself pulling down towards her lips like gravity. He felt her hands weave through his hair and he let his hands travel down her back to wrap around her waist. The hot Tattooine wind rushed past them as their lips finally locked.

Perhaps he could tell her he loved her after all.