**IMPORTANT**: Now that Thrawn is canon again, but with some key alterations to his history (like not being exiled), I'm going to be updating this series to follow what is now canon for Thrawn. Due to this and his exile featuring strongly in this installation in the Fire and Ice series, I'm moving this book to Legends status. This is no longer canon for the Fire and Ice series. I will be rewriting this book at a later date so that it is in line with what is now canon for Thrawn. I will be leaving this version up, as I put a lot of time and energy into writing it. Just be aware that this is no longer canon to my series.
AN: This takes place approximately 10 Galactic Standard years (about 6 Chiss year) after Pride & Prejudice, in c. 20 BBY. I will probably go back and fill in some of the gap later with a couple of short stories, but this was the next big one that came to mind. The tone of this one will be very much different from the other two stories, but please stick with me for a bit! I don't want to give the plot away, but I will promise I'm not the cruel, horrible person the first ten-ish chapters will makes me seem like. :p Please read and review!
Disclaimer: I don't own Star Wars or the characters. Chiara is my own invention, everything else belongs to Timothy Zahn and Lucasfilm. Please don't sue me. :p
Prologue
Chiara strode through the grey corridors towards her destination, lightsaber bumping gently at her hip. She slipped through the open door of Thrawn's office and stole up behind him, slipping her arms around his neck and brushing her lips against the blue skin of his cheek.
Thrawn glanced up in surprise from the datapad he had been pouring over. "Chiara," he greeted her, giving her the warm smile that he reserved solely for her. His glowing red eyes flicked to the form-fitting, black jumpsuit that she was wearing. "Where are you going? You're not scheduled on any surveillance runs, today."
Chiara had learned to fly a clawcraft, the heavy fighters favored by the Chiss, shortly after they had arrive at the Crustai asteroid base. She had proved herself to be a quick study and very capable pilot, despite Thrawn's frequent jibes about the state in which he had found her and the prototype fighter she'd been flying when she ended up in Chiss space. She enjoyed the opportunity to get out of the base and explore the surrounding space, so much so that Thrawn had made her part of the duty roster for routine surveillance sweeps of the area. He had also come to rely on her for long distance reconnaissance that might be too much for one of his warriors. With her Jedi abilities, she could easily stretch out the fighter's supply of air for several days, enabling her to cover far more ground without the need of traveling with one of the cruisers for support.
"No, but you are about to ask me to do a reconnaissance mission on the Yavitri sector, based on that report," she said, nodding towards the datapad.
"You are getting far too good at picking up on what I am thinking, Jedi." The words and tone were stern, but the glimmer of amusement in his eyes told her that he wasn't really serious.
"After six years, I know you well enough that I don't need the Force to figure that out," she countered. He was right, though; she could usually sense his mood and often tell what direction his thoughts were taking, these days.
"I suppose not," he said, standing and kissing her forehead. "Although it's not six years until tomorrow."
Chiara rolled her eyes. "Please pardon me for rounding it up by a day."
"And you are still as impertinent and reckless as you were on the day I met you," Thrawn told her, tracing the point of her ear with one fingertip.
"Admit it, you love me all the more for that," she laughed, kissing him lightly.
One blue-black eyebrow shot up. "I admit it freely. Just don't allow that recklessness to get you into trouble on this trip. All I want to know is how many ships there are, of what type they are and what they appear to be doing. Don't engage them; don't go poking around too much, and certainly don't land so you can look around. Just get a good look and come straight back."
"I will," she promised. "Care to see me off?"
"But of course," Thrawn told her. They walked through the corridors to the hangar bay hand in hand.
"Be careful," Thrawn said softly as they slowed to a halt beside Chiara's favorite clawcraft.
Chiara threw him a cocky grin. "Always."
Thrawn smiled back and shook his head slightly at her jaunty attitude. "So reckless." He glanced around to make sure none of the techs were within eyesight, then took a step towards Chiara, pressing her body against his own as his warm lips moved over hers. She twined her arms around his neck and ran one hand through his glossy, blue-black hair. With one hand on her lower back, Thrawn pressed her closer while he cupped her jaw gently but firmly with the other.
When they finally parted a long moment later, Chiara leaned back against the wing of the fighter to catch her breath. Thrawn's lips skimmed along her jawline and trailed down her neck.
"If you don't stop that, I'm never going to leave," Chiara teased breathlessly, pushing him away gently. Thrawn stole another sweet kiss from her lips before he finally released her.
"Don't be gone too long," Thrawn told her.
"I won't," Chiara assured him, stepping to one side and using the Force to leap up over the fighter and drop neatly into the cockpit. She popped her head out of the open canopy as Thrawn turned ands started towards the hangar door. "I love you," she called after him.
He turned back to her with a smile that Chiara could both see and feel echoing through the Force. "I love you, too. Be safe."
