Teach You a Lesson

Chapter 10

In the morning, Tiana woke up and felt a weight resting over her chest and someone breathing hotly into the crook of her neck. She opened her emerald-eyes and saw that Master Jinn was sleeping on her bed! The Padawan let loose a panicked squeal and tried to move, but she discovered she couldn't squirm an inch and Jinn seemed to ended up snuggling closer. He pressed his nose to her neck and used the arm draped across her shoulder to draw her deeper to his embrace.

Thankfully, she noticed that he was still lying over her blanket and he was still fully dressed, but instead of her getting comfort in his arms, she was now trapped as his personal teddy bear. She saw that sometime during the night that the handsome knight had rolled over to his front and over her form and had her pinned with his legs and arms.

Quietly, Tiana tried to wake him. "…Jinn?…Master Jinn?"

The warrior mumbled and buried his face into her hair next to her ear and shockingly began to kiss her head. Tiana felt her heart skip a beat and froze in place. She was so sure that her master didn't care for her like that. He made it perfectly clear that their relationship was strictly student and teacher.

Then, he spoke to her out loud in his sleep. "Beautiful Tiana…"

Surprised at Jinn's subconscious words, Tiana turned her head and stared at his serene sleeping face and studied his features. He looks so much younger shaved and his red-ish brown hair was so rich and vivid in the early morning light. She noticed that like his father, he had a cleft chin and a boyish charm. However, her gaze fell to his lips and she unconsciously licked her own. She discovered that ever since she shared a kiss with her handsome master, she couldn't get the feeling out of her mind.

"Force, I'm terrible," she said to herself and daringly she leaned in close and shut her eyes for a stole kiss, but a hair's breath away, she stopped and dropped her head back down to her pillow and groan.

"Oh, heaven and earth! What's wrong with me?"

Suddenly, Jinn opened his eerie amber-eyes and spontaneously gathered Tiana up into his arms, blanket and all and rolled her over onto his chest with a laugh. Tiana screamed at the unexpected move and tried to get off the bed, but Jinn held her firmly in place.

"Oh, you bad girl! I saw that, you tried to steal a kiss from me. Well, I can't blame you, I am rather handsome. What woman couldn't resist the Kenobi charm?"

Furious, Tiana tried to back free and wiggled against his chest, but stopped and opted instead to swat him over his shoulder and shouted, "No! You're cruel and—and mean for making fun of me when you know I've got a crush on you. It's not fair, Jinn! Now, let me go!"

Immediately, the warrior released her and she scrabbled away across the room and crossed her arms over her chest and fumed. Meanwhile, Jinn felt spurred. He thought they'd just play a game. He had no idea she'd still be so shook up after yesterday.

He sat up and said, "Tiana, I'm sorry for upsetting you. But, I think you've made progress facing your feelings and for that I'm thankful. I promise I won't jest with you like that again. Now, come here and sit down. You are overreacting."

The emerald-eyed beauty frowned, but did what she was told and sat next to Jinn at the edge of the bed and waited.

The warrior then ran his hand threw his hair and took a deep breath and said, "Now, I think we ought to clear the air. First, tell me how you feel. You can tell me anything that's troubling you at all. You have my word that I will listen attentively."

Nervously, Tiana bit her lower lip and stared away into space and shut her eyes and replied, "I still have feelings for you—inappropriate feelings. But, I know you don't have the same feelings for me. And I know I should let my feelings pass, but it's hard. I'm not over you. I don't see you as a wise old master, I see you—well, I see you as a white knight. My white knight. And it hurts knowing that you don't think of me the same way, so please, let's just be friends. Let's act only as friends."

Jinn smiled with admiration at how much Tiana had opened up and had to resist the urge to hold her hand. He felt that maybe he should have introduced her to the Clan ways earlier. He had no idea that the concept of accepting all feelings and not classifying them as bad or good would have such a positive influence on her. He was also glad to hear that she still liked him. However, he felt he couldn't tell her just yet how much he loved her too.

He had to maintain his master-mode and said, "Yes, I agree. We can be friends and I will try my best to make you feel comfortable, but I've got to warn you that some things won't change. Some things are just part of my personality. Though, you should remember that I hold you in high regard, Padawan. There isn't anybody in the world like you to me, Miss Tiana Hartly."

-0-0-0-

Location: outside the Jedi Council Chamber

"Oh, Force! I can't believe this. You shaved too? Now, we really do look identical," whined Ben. He then turned about and said to his wife, "I blame you. This is your doing with that ridiculously bet."

Thrice smiled wickedly and caressed her husbands cheek with the back of her hand and said, "Hush, my love. I had no idea, but it's only fate to blame for making our son take after your handsome looks."

The Knight caught her hand kissed her palm. "Yes, my darling, but this will be terribly confusing for the Senate. And especially so since Jinn was my substitute. Our opinions sometimes tend to differ greatly and they will likely think I have swayed."

"Nonsense, father," answered Jinn. "I think the Senate should get more of a taste of Master Jinn Kenobi since I will be taking over your position when you retire."

Ben stared at his mirror-image son and frowned. He didn't like the idea of retirement. He had worked long and hard to help rebuild the New Order and the New Republic that it felt odd to just walk away when it had been his whole life. And anyway, what was he supposed to do with himself when he did eventually retire? Just simply live on Naboo with his wife? Live the quiet life?

"Well, I guess anything is better than Tatooine," he grumbled.

He recalled his idol years spent in exile on the vile desert planet, burning under the twin suns while watching Luke mature as he aged slowly as a solitary hermit. At the very least, his former crazy-old-Ben days were over and done with. Thus far, he had had a full life and he was no longer alone. He had now his wife and his children, even his grandchildren. He had friends and mentored many students. Yes, he concluded, his second life had been much more for filling than his last.

Yet, Thrice sensed his busy mind and probably guessed his train of thought and tenderly soothed his fingers with her touch and raised his hand up so she could kiss them reverently with her warm lips.

Then, confidently she said, "No matter where we are, my Knight. We will be together for a thousand years."

Ben blushed under the wave of love he felt for his lady and lovely threaded his hand through her long raven hair and replied, "A thousand years is an eternity too short, Milady."

"Please…" groaned Jinn abruptly and then urgently he ushered his parents to end their moment and head off to the Council room to begin their meeting with the Chancellor. The couple shared an amused glance at their son's discomfort agreed and they entered without another word, yet inwardly Tiana couldn't help glancing at Jinn's parents in envy.

She watched the pair interact so carefree and in sync. They just seemed to understand each other so innately like they were always meant to be together that when she heard the red-eyed beauty speak about eternity it sent a chill down her spine. Tiana suddenly understood the gravity of Jinn's off-hand words that day at the observatory. She suddenly knew through hearing the phrase pass through Lady Thrice's lips just how deeply the handsome knight loved her too.

In a flash, she stared at him amazed as he stood next to his father like a strange twin and make his report to the Chancellor that he was actually telling her cryptically that he loved her romantically and was willing to wait for her to mature. Force! Like lightening, she then understood that he had no intention of letting his feelings pass. He just kept it hidden away and repressed.

It made her heart race and her pulse pound as she realized that here and now that the warrior truly loved her.

-0-0-0-

Location: space, Jinn's ship the Nomad

A year later, the two had been on several missions and Jinn had taught Tiana all he knew about being a warrior as well as being a Jedi Knight. The double training and harsher standards had changed the master's relationship with his apprentice. He no longer taught her the ways of the Force like a shy child as he had his first Padawan, Vera. No, now he trained Tiana mercilessly like his own mother had taught him. It was her ambition to make him into a great warrior. She wanted to mold him into someone worthy of the title of lord and in response he set out to make Tiana magnificent. He wanted to prepare her for a hard world like an eagle would teach its own fledgling to hunt and kill.

He told her that he would treat her, as he had been himself. He was no longer showing her how to be a simple guardian of the peace, no—he was now teaching her how to be a diplomat, negotiator, strategist, engineer, pilot, swordsmen, blacksmith, chef, medic and entertainer. He informed her that he was no longer content to just make her a specialized Jedi Knight. He was now set to make her a woman who was equal to an elite lady of the Clan.

"Very good, Tiana. You are definitely getting the hang of it," commented Jinn. He watched her swing and block blows from a training-probe with ease with his metal sword. He had recently been teaching her how to channel the Living Force with his ancestral weapon and she seemed to actually prefer it to her lightsaber.

"It's heavier. It's more solid. Plus, it has your aura, Master Jinn. Remind me again why that is?"

The warrior smiled and replied, "That's because it has a special stone at the base of the blade, Padawan. It has indeed absorbed some of my aura and with it I can summon my sword much more easily than I can ordinary objects with the Force. You see, the Clan aren't very good at manipulating the Force to move things. They are keener at moving energy. And so they added this stone to make retrieving easier. As a result, I can throw my sword at a foe from afar and call it back to me like a boomerang. You can't do that with a lightsaber."

"Why not? You can move a lightsaber back to your hand too."

"Yes, but a lightsaber deactivates when you're not holding it, but a sword does not. If I wanted to, I could easily miss a foe, but then stab him from behind with a summons back."

Tiana made a face, "Oh, that's horrible! And—and—"

"Uncivilized? Well, my dear, as the general said, there is no formality in war."

Puzzled, she asked, "And just who was this general? Your mother or your father?"

Jinn laughed and said, "Neither, actually. It was the general from the Clan army. The rebel leader of the Bringers of Truth who helped the Core Rebel Alliance take down the Evil Empire. He's a very sly individual and if you can imagine, he is even more dashing than I am."

Tiana scuffed in disbelief. "No one is as dashing as you, Jinn." Then, in a change of mood, she shut the training-probe and sheathed the blade and suddenly became shy.

Bashfully, she asked, "Jinn? When do you think I'll be ready for the trials?"

"Oh, you needn't worry about that, Tiana. As far as I am concerned you have completed your training. You just need to make things official with the Council and undergo a small test, but the way I've trained you, you will probably think it easy as pie."

"Do you mean it? I'm ready?"

"Yes, Padawan, I mean it. This, I am certain of. Why do you ask?"

The green-eyed beauty then rushed to Jinn and hugged him tight. The force of her embrace nearly knocked the wind out of the warrior that he laughed and hugged her back tenderly.

"Well, what's gotten into you?"

Tiana then pulled back a little and stared into master's eerie amber-eyes and said, "I love you, Jinn."

"Oh? Well, I love you too, Tiana. I know you will do well."

In response, Tiana nearly wanted to kill Jinn. That wasn't the kind of reaction she expected at all. Frustrated, she shouted, "No! I mean that I love you. I'm in love with you. I want to be with you."

The warrior shook his head and grabbed her hands and held them to his chest and closed his honey eyes and replied sadly, "No, Tiana. What you feel for me is merely an infatuation. It is something you must let pass."

Angered, she pulled away from his hold and said, "I refuse. I know my own feelings, Jinn, and I know that I love you. It isn't an infatuation. It isn't a crush. And don't tell me that we can't because things are different now. You said so yourself that I'm practically finished with my training. And I will no longer be your Padawan soon and we can both be together. I think we've waited long enough."

Tense, Jinn stepped away from her and tried to clear his mind. He wanted so much to believe, to believe that they had a chance, but the situation still felt wrong. He had to maintain a level head. He couldn't jeopardize Tiana's future when she was so obtaining her goal.

Firmly, the warrior said, "No. You haven't done enough living to know what you want, Tiana. I don't want you to mix up a fatherly affection for love. You should get to know more people like yourself before you make any brash decisions."

The young Jedi shook her head and ran to Jinn's side and slowly turned him to face her and replied, "No, Jinn. I'm not being brash and you're pushing me away. I don't understand you. I thought you said a true love was worth waiting a thousand years. Aren't I the one you were talking about? Please, Jinn, tell me how you really feel? Let me decide if I feel the same way."

Jinn turned his gaze downward in pain and said, "Oh, Tiana. Please, don't ask me that."

"Please be honest with me, Jinn. Your feelings matter too. I don't want any misunderstandings."

The warrior paused for what felt like an eternity until at last he pinned her with his eerie gaze and moved to lance his fingers through hers and slowly began to channel the Living Force around them. Tenderly, like floating on water, Tiana felt herself begin to drift away into the Force and become swallowed up in feelings of harmony and bliss. It was such a heavenly sensation and one she had experienced several times under Jinn's tutelage, but suddenly there was something different and new.

Suddenly, she heard a song echo deep inside her mind and fill her essence with its melody. She then felt a wave of passion and desire unexpectedly ignited around her like a flame. It made her feel both chard and chilled in its intensity that she thought she'd drown with sensation. And strangely she realized that this blaze was Jinn. This fire was Jinn's soul, the fire he kept trying to explain to her in his teachings. Then, in a flicker the blaze changed into a blue inferno that was radiant, constant and pure and instantly Tiana knew that this was his love. Jinn's spirit literally smoldered with love just for her. It was incredible and fragile and exposed and like a dream, she gradually began to return to her physical self and woken as if in a daydream.

Startled, she gasped and reverently caressed the warrior's face and stared up at him with watery eyes and said, "Oh, Jinn. To say you love me doesn't even begin to describe how you feel. I—I didn't know—I don't know anyone could feel that way about me. Is that how you see me? Oh, Jinn, I don't deserve that—"

"No!" roared the warrior. "No, don't ever say you don't deserve to be loved. I meant what I said. You got it right, Tiana. I do love you. I did meant it when I told you nearly a year ago that I would wait for you, that I would be willing to wait a thousand years for you. Don't you see? I had to be patient. I had to allow you to grow. I couldn't spoil you because then I would be dishonoring you and the person you were meant to be. But, we've spent so much time together, so much time unequal and training. How can you ever learn to love me properly? How can you look at me and not think of me as merely your Master when all this time I've imagined you as my lady? Don't you understand, Tiana, I never wanted to nurture you, all I ever wanted to do was worship you."

In answer, Tiana smiled and carefully framed Jinn's face with her hands and leaned forward to give him a fast kiss and replied, "Jinn, you may have been my Master, but I never seen you as a fatherly figure. I told you before; you have always been my white knight. You made me strong. You taught me what true commitment is. And I love you more for nurturing me, not less." The green-eyed beauty then pressed her forehead to Jinn's and said, "Thank you, Jinn. Thank you for teaching me."

-0-0-0-

Please review. Thank you. Not sure if I should right another chapter. I hope you enjoyed it.