See Chapter 1 for info & warnings

Dark and dangerous like a secret that gets whispered in a hush,

When I wake the things I dreamt about you last night make me blush.

~Indigo Girls "Ghost"

Almost three years had passed since Tanilea began the long road to becoming a Jedi. With each year, Obi-Wan and Tanilea became better friends. If it were not for the fact that they were both busy with their studies, they would have spent every waking moment together. The only problem was that Tanilea realized Obi-Wan had developed a crush on her. She wished often that he had just left things as they were, but it comforted her to know that he would never move on the attraction for fear of ruining their friendship. As much as she loved him-like a brother-Tanilea had no desire to become romantically involved with her fellow Padawan.

They sat side-by-side in the quarters Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon shared, deep in discussion over the holovid that had just finished its run. "You have to be kidding!" Tanilea exclaimed. "It was horrible! Depressing. Dark and depressing."

He sat partially up from his spot on the floor and stared at her in disbelief. "It was not! It was about hope. It-"

"Hope?" Tanilea's disbelief was obvious.

"Yes."

She snorted in disgust and threw a pillow at him. "You're full of it."

Before Obi-Wan could retaliate, a new voice joined the conversation, "And you should both be studying."

Tanilea started at the sound of Master Jinn's voice, then silently berated herself for her reaction. She had always been perfectly at ease around him, but recently his presence made her nervous, edgy, a reaction she had not had to anyone since her arrival on Coruscant. Though she could not yet put her finger on what caused the uneasiness, Tanilea felt reluctant to mention the situation to Master Lanar. After all, she should be able to deal with her own emotions after three years of intensive training. At least she was able to make a graceful exit. Whenever Master Jinn interrupted the two, it meant that they were both needed to continue their lessons. "Master Jinn." She bowed respectfully before heading for the door. "See you later, Obi." /Good luck!/

He smiled silent thanks. /And it was too good! And about hope,/ he sent as the door slid shut.

"Wake up, Padawan." Lanar gently shook Tanilea's shoulder. /Wake up, Tani./

With a small sigh, Tanilea rolled over and sat up, blinking in the darkness of their quarters until her eyes adjusted. "What is it, Master?" Sleep dulled her sensed and made it difficult to focus on her Master's words.

The woman smiled and sat down on the bed beside her. "You were talking in your sleep. And you remember what we talked about yesterday?" Tanilea nodded, suddenly wondering how their talk about Master Jinn related to her nocturnal ramblings. "I understand now. You said his name as you slept."

Realization slowly flooded Tanilea's tired brain, even as color flooded her cheeks. "Oh," she replied meekly, more than a bit embarrassed by how obvious her feelings suddenly were. /Why didn't I notice sooner?/

"You need not feel so self-conscious, Padawan. You are not the first girl who has had a crush on someone, you know."

The words were soft, meant to comfort, but they struck an odd chord with Tanilea. Something in the statement was wrong. /...not the first girl who has had a crush on someone.../ Her heart whispered the answer that Tanilea knew already. "What if it isn't a crush?"

Lanar raised an eyebrow and looked carefully at the girl. Long hair obscured Tanilea's face; still, the Master read her emotions easily. "You think it may be love?"

The question was so carefully spoken that Tanilea could not tell her Master's opinion of the thought. "Logically, I would answer no. My heart speaks differently." Her icy blue eyes, all the colder for the fear she felt, sought Lanar's. "Could I be wrong?" The part of her heart not devoted to suddenly pumping blood at a much faster rate than was normal yearned for the Jedi to dispel her fears, to say there was no chance she could have fallen in love with Master Jinn.

For a moment, Lanar said nothing. The silence suffocated Tanilea like a wet blanket. She was about to reach out with the Force to try and probe Master Lanar's feelings when she spoke. "If your heart tells you that you are in love, you likely are. The heart can be trained to lie to others, but a pure heart can never lie to its owner. And yours is a pure heart, Padawan."

Tears threatened as Tanilea asked piteously, "What do I do?"

"Wait. Wait until the time is right. Or until the love fades. Not all loves are meant to be. Some are never shared. Some are not meant to be shared." Something in Master Lanar's tone and manner told Tanilea that she herself had experienced such heartbreak at least once in her life. "Most of all, do not fear your feelings. No feelings are wrong. Some are more pleasant and more helpful than others, some are to be confronted and banished, but none are wrong. Let go your fear, Padawan."

With a sigh, Tanilea forced her heart erratic beating to slow, willed herself into a state of calm again. "I will, Master. Thank you."

Lanar held her briefly, then rose. "Good night, Tani. And sweet dreams."