Chapter 10

Allysia finished sterilizing the last bacta tank. It had been a busy day and she was exhausted. What she wasn't expecting was to see Master Yan Dooku sitting in the exam room, waiting for her. She stiffened. He was Qui-Gon's friend; so what did he want with her?

"Master Dooku, are you injured?" she asked softly.

"No, my dear, I came here to talk with you," he replied kindly, motioning for her to sit down with him. She sat down hesitantly.

"If this is about Qui-Gon, I don't know if I want to talk about it," she said, her eyes welling up with tears.

He smiled, laying a comforting hand on her shoulder. "You don't have to talk; just listen." He took a deep breath. "I think he was afraid he'd hurt you if he acted on his feelings for you. He was also afraid of betraying Tahl, even though she'd told him with her dying breath that it was okay for him to love you."

Yan shared the story he'd told Qui-Gon with Allysia, letting her know that he'd told his former apprentice as well. "I understand you're considering taking an assignment to Illum," he added. "If you thought Qui-Gon returned your feelings and would be willing to take a chance, would you take the assignment, child?"

Allysia sighed. This was a hard question. She hadn't accepted the assignment yet, but the Council was going to need an answer soon. "I might, but I'd come back to Coruscant after the Healer's wing was up and running if I knew someone would be waiting for me," she whispered.

Dooku smiled. "He's still in the Room of a Thousand Flowers," he said with a smirk. "I can still sense him. Go, child. Go straighten this out."

Tears stinging her eyes, Allysia left the Wing and hurried to the meditation room, hoping against hope that Dooku was right.

Qui-Gon lost track of the time he'd spent sitting by the large fountain in the middle of the room, thinking about everything Yan had told him. Of all the Jedi Masters he'd known, he'd never guessed that Yan Dooku would've been one to question the Code and consider leaving the Order to settle down with a beautiful woman. The words of his former mentor echoed in his head. "You have a chance to be happy with a woman who truly cares for you and loves you. Take it and hold onto it for dear life…"

His thoughts wandered to his late lover, Tahl. Yes, she'd told him it was okay for him to love Allysia, but he still felt unsure. Why would she want him? What did he have to give her?

"You really need to be mindful of your thoughts, Master Jedi," that soft female voice whispered, filled with hope, and love.

He looked up to find Allysia standing before him. Smiling, she sat down beside him.

"I take it Dooku talked to you," he guessed.

She shrugged. "Deep down under that strict Jedi exterior, he must have a romantic heart," she quipped.

"Did he tell you why?" he asked as he hesitantly inching toward her.

She nodded. "That's his biggest regret; he said it himself. I wonder if maybe he saw in us, himself and this girl, Anya." She reached out and took his hand in hers, lowering her shields completely.

Qui-Gon lowered his as well and they began to form a mental bond with one another. Qui-Gon almost wanted to cry. He could feel the love Allysia had for him, and he could hear a familiar voice in the Force.

"Love her, Qui-Gon; you deserve it, and her…"

Wordlessly, he gently drew her into his arms, holding her close. "Can you forgive me for pushing you away?" he asked softly. The moment she melded to his body, he held her tighter to him. "I'm so sorry, Allysia."

She felt at home in his arms and she knew they'd be all right. "Yes," she whispered. "Please don't doubt me again."

"I won't; you have my word." He smiled and lowered his lips to hers to seal that promise.

It was like coming home.