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Chapter 35

As Bastila was speaking with her mother, Revan decided to, at least try, to solve unspoken problems with one member of their crew. Carth Onasi.

During these rare moments when he probed his mind, all he found was sadness and sorrow. Back on Dantooine, he tried to talk to him about it some more, only to be turned down each time. Now, seeing Carth drinking yet another shot, he assumed he would have more luck this time. Which is why now he was making his way to the table Carth was sitting at. Alone.

The Republic pilot didn't notice him until he felt a tap on the shoulder. He lifted his head, directing his gaze away from the now empty glass. Revan saw in his eyes the same sorrow he saw in his mind. The same sorrow he sensed in his voice when he was talking with him on Taris, and later on their first day on Dantooine.

"What is it?" Carth asked out of politeness. Revan heard it clearly in his voice that he was in no mood for talking, but he decided to ignore that. Even if Carth wouldn't admit it, the talk was something he most certainly needed.

"Don't know" Revan replied, shrugging his shoulders. "Just decided to join you. It's rare for anyone to drink on his own, you know?" he asked, purring himself a glass of clear alcohol and sipping it immediately. The cold liquid burned his throat, almost forcing tears out of him, but none came. Revan was already used to the taste of alcohol, and one shot certainly wouldn't make him cry or cough. Carth sighed at his comment.

"I know, it's just… I don't want to talk to anyone. I'd rather be left alone" he hurried with a reply. Revan looked at him unconvinced.

"You know that you're not convincing, don't you? Actually, it's as plain as day that you need to talk to someone. Why can't I be this someone? After all, we didn't have a civil chat since the first day on Dantooine." Carth sighed again.

"Fine" he growled finally. "What do you want?"

"Well," he began, ignoring Carth's hostile tone. "Even if we talked to each other a few times, I still know very little about you. About your past, I mean."

"And why would that be so interesting, huh?"

"Perhaps it would help me understand you a little better. You're always self-contained and almost hostile. I can't say it serves our mission well since we all are a team and we have to act like one. So?" he urged him on.

"I've already told you everything there was to say" he replied in the same tone. "During the bombardment of Telos, I lost my wife, and my son's gone missing. I don't even know if he's still alive. I seriously doubt that you can understand, so please, don't pretend to understand it. You don't have a wife, nor a child."

Revan nodded in response. It was true. He didn't have a child. But he knew what it meant to love a woman. He could only imagine how would he feel if he lost Bastila. And if what Carth told him previously was true, holding her, dying in his arms, would probably too much for him. He had to admit it. Despite Carth's level of ignorance and his short-sightedness, he was strong. He saw others after losing their beloved ones. He saw Yusanis, the legendary Echani warrior who blamed him for Arren Kae's death, and it was enough for him to, at least partially, understand what it felt like to lose the love of one's life.

But what Carth didn't know was that Revan knew perfectly what happened to Dustil. The boy's name lingered deep in his memory when Carth told it to him. He made some effort to find out why it sounded familiar to him. It took him a while, but he managed to recall what happened to the pilot's son. But he had some serious doubts if he was the same person Carth remembered.

"You know" Revan began, doing his best to sound comforting. "If you haven't found the body, then he may still be alive."

Carth shrugged his shoulders. "Never mind." With that, he went silent. Revan sat there for few more minutes, drinking two more shots. Just as he was about to raise up to leave, Carth stopped him. "Wait. There's something I want to talk to you about."

"What's that?" Revan asked intrigued.

"There's something that's just not working out for me. I told you about my past, and now I demand you to tell me something more about you. I'm not buying what you told me back on Taris. If you were just a common soldier, you wouldn't be trained by the Jedi. Moreover, why would the Jedi send you, 'the common soldier' to such an important mission? I can understand why Bastila was sent. After all, she's one of the strongest Jedi, due to her battle meditation. But who are you exactly?"

"I am what I told you previously" Revan replied, picking words carefully.

"Yes, a soldier with the Jedi powers" Carth commented, looking at him closely. It was clear that he wasn't buying it in the slightest. Revan shrugged his shoulders, pretending to sound casual.

"What can I say? It's not my fault that the Jedi didn't find my earlier."

"And how can that be possible? From what I overheard, the Masters on Dantooine claimed that you're far more powerful than most of their students. So how can that be that they haven't found you when you were a kid?"

"I have no idea. Perhaps you should go to Dantooine and ask them yourself?"

"Perhaps I'll do just that?" Carth replied ironically. "This, and you feel… strangely familiar."

Revan shrugged his shoulders yet again. "Well, perhaps because we've spent the last months in each other's company?"

"No, I have a feeling like I saw you before" Carth commented, and a momentary silence lingered between them. "Did you take part in the Mandalorian Wars?"

Revan watched him carefully while replying. "I did."

"Under who did you serve?"

"Admiral Jimas Veeltra." It wasn't fully a lie. Actually, he served alongside Admiral Veeltra.

"Then you also had to serve under Revan" Carth deducted.

"Well, perhaps" he hurried with the response. "I never met him in person, though. Not many of the soldiers did."

"Perhaps?" the pilot asked, raising his eyebrow.

"What? You expect me to remember everyone who I served under? I could go through dozens of minor commanders who gave me orders during the War. I wasn't anyone important in the military, after all."

"I find it hard to believe" Carth replied carefully. "With your set of skills, you should be at least a General." Thanks for a compliment, Revan thought to himself. "Also, I studied your records much more… closely" he added.

"And what interesting have you found?"

"I found out that Alen Royce was killed in the battle of Althir III. It was the same battle during which Revan was taken prisoner by the Mandalorians."

Fucking morons, Revan cursed at the Jedi Masters. He knew why this name seemed so familiar to him. He couldn't believe that they used the identity of the man who died under him in the Mandalorian Wars.

"I was seriously wounded" he replied. "I was found later by the Republic forces and sent back to some remote Republic planet for vindication. I was then released from my service until the end of the Mandalorian Wars."

"So you did meet Revan in person" Carth commented. "You fought with him that day. He was the one who led the ground assault."

Fuck, he thought to himself. "I did. But I wasn't near him, or anything like that. I was one of the thousands. One of the few lucky ones to survive."

"And yet the Republic has announced you were dead. How has that happened?"

He was struggling to find some believable excuse but was saved by Bastila who came up to them in that very moment. He almost sighed loudly with relief. Instead of replying to Carth's question, he turned to the newly arrived Jedi Padawan.

"How are the things with your mother?" he asked, clearly ignoring Carth.

"Good" Bastila replied. "Can I ask you for a moment?" she asked, directing the question to Revan.

"What happened?" Carth asked, chiming in.

"Sorry, Carth, but that's a Jedi business."

"Ah, sure. Keep me out of the loop. After all, I'm just a pilot who's on this mission only to carry you from one planet to another."

"Drop it, Carth" Bastila replied in a tone that left no room for argument. The man only sighed in resignation. Before they left, he gave Revan one last look that clearly said they were going to continue their conversation later in the future.

"What has happened?" Revan asked after they left the cantina.

"I think I should be the one to ask this question" Bastila replied, earning a questioning look from the man in front of her. "I sensed through our Bond that you were in troubles. What happened?" she asked, crossing her arms over her chest. Revan laughed at that.

"I wasn't in troubles" he replied. "It was something I could easily handle myself, but… Carth just took me by surprise, that's all."

"And what exactly did he say that the great Darth Revan was taken by surprise?" He chuckled at that.

"He began asking questions. Uncomfortable questions. More than that, I think it won't be long until he discovers my true identity."

"What will you do then?" Bastila asked, slightly worried. They were walking through some backstreets of the Anchorhead City, not caring much where their legs would carry them.

"I guess that what I did with all unhandy persons that I had to deal with."

"Which is?"

"I'll send him on a mission from which he won't return." He earned a rather strong punch in the shoulder from Bastila. Fortunately, she hit his left shoulder. Revan giggled at that. "Okay, okay. I won't do it… perhaps." He laughed again when Bastila punched him once again. He pulled her tightly against him, embracing her. Such position made walking difficult, but they paid that no mind.

Wolfie was overseeing the ship's repairs, walking through the empty corridors. T3 was in the back of the Ebon Hawk, dealing with the damaged hyperspace drive, while HK was checking the ship's turrets. He wondered how one sandstorm could cause such massive damage.

He was passing by the ship's holoprojector when it suddenly started bipping furiously, surprising the one-eyed pilot. Someone was trying to contact them. He turned it on, accepting the call.

He had no idea who he expected to see in the holoprojector, but most certainly it wasn't Darth Traya. The second he saw her, he immediately kneeled, bowing his head low. She was the only person, except for Revan, he showed so much respect.

"Raise, pilot," the Dark Lady said with the same emotionless tone she was always using. Wolfie did as he was told to. "Where's Revan?" she asked.

"Not here, Milady" he replied immediately. He had his arms entwined behind his back. "He's on the planet's surface. Our ship has suffered some damages. I'm overlooking the repairs right now. Is there something wrong?" he asked, curiously. He had no idea how the Dark Lady was able to find their ship's signature, moreover know that they weren't with the Sith Armada, but he decided to pay it no mind. Darth Traya possessed many skills, some outmatching even Revan himself.

"There's something I have to tell him, pilot" she replied. As always, only her mouth was visible; the rest of her face remained hidden underneath her black hood. "Something of the great importance. I want him to contact me as soon as he is on the ship."

"I'm sorry, Milady, but I don't think it's possible. We're in a hurry, and…" It wasn't given to him to finish what he was saying because an invisible hand clenched tightly around his throat. He was struggling to breathe as he was being lifted into the air, being held at Traya's eye level."

"It wasn't a request, pilot. It was an order" the hologram said. Wolfie managed to give a small nod, signaling that he understood. With that, he earned freedom; the invisible hand was now released from around his throat and he was dropped to the ground. The pilot was trying to get as much of oxygen into his lungs as he could, coughing violently. His face began to return to its original color.

"As soon as Revan returns he is to contact me immediately. I'd rather not repeat myself." With that, the holoprojector went dead, leaving Wolfie, who still was struggling to regain his normal breathing, alone.

I fucking hate that choking, he thought to himself before standing up and continuing his previous activities.

Revan had no idea how it happened, but he and Bastila suddenly found themselves in an empty house, engaged in a rather heavy make-out session. All thoughts about Carth, Juhani and everything else escaped his mind, as he was holding Bastila tightly in his arms, kissing her furiously. She was replying to his actions with a similar ferocity. He felt her hands making their way across his body, discarding his clothes. He mimicked her movements, taking off the light robe of her.

Revan was now pushed on the bed. He complied willingly. After all, who was he to disagree with her? It scared him sometimes. The effect the woman above him had on him. He would do absolutely everything for her. He smiled lightly in the realization that he was doing just that.

He quickly changed their position, laying on top of her, as he usually did. He earned a small chuckle from Bastila as he attacked her lips yet again.

Revan earned a small gasp from Bastila as he entered her. As always, she had her eyes closed and a small smile was visible on her lips. She was enjoying the first few seconds of Revan's presence inside of her before he would start moving in and out.

Despite it not being the first time they were making love, Bastila still couldn't get used to the feeling of someone being inside her. It made her feel whole. It made her feel womanly. It made her feel loved.

She gasped slightly yet again when Revan began to gather speed. All the time he was kissing her. Whether it was on the lips, or on her neck, or on any other spot of her skin. She hummed in delight, savoring the incredible feeling only Revan could give her.

Their lovemaking has ended as it always had, with Revan releasing himself inside of her. That moment, Revan's strength failed him and he collapsed on top of her, pinning her down onto the mattress. Bastila parted her lips from Revan's and hummed yet again in delight. She was drawing small patterns on his back with her fingers, making sure not to scratch it anymore.

It took him a while, but finally, Revan escaped her, rolling to the side. Bastila followed him and rested his head against his chest. In no time they both drifted off to sleep, happy to be in each other's arms.

When Bastila awoke it still was a middle of the night. She was still laying with her head on Revan's chest. She smiled slightly, rubbing her hand against the man's skin.

It was then when she noticed a small object on the finger of her left hand. She brought it closer to her face, trying to make out the small shape. Her eyes widened with shock and surprise when she realized what it was.

It was a ring. Not an outstanding one, but still it was beautiful. A small, golden object fit perfectly her finger, but at the same time, it wasn't squeezing it. Her eyes filled with tears of happiness immediately. She lifted her gaze upward to look on Revan.

He was still fast asleep. His arms were wrapped possessively around her. She didn't see the matching ring on his ring finger. Instead, she noticed a small box on the bedside cabinet that was standing next to the bed they were occupying. Curious as to what it was, she called it to her with the Force.

Inside she found a similar ring to the one she had, but bigger. She smiled widely when the realization struck down upon her. Revan allowed her to make the choice. He already made his own and was now waiting for her to reply. Without thinking long, she pulled out the circular object and put it on Revan's finger. Then, she entwined their hands, enjoying the sight of two rings before she drifted back to sleep.

They woke up a few hours later, just a few minutes before the sunrise. Both their gazes drifted to their still entwined fingers. The large smiles appeared on their faces as they brushed their ring fingers.

Bastila turned her gaze upward to look on Revan's face. He was watching her with something that could only be described as pure love. It filled her stomach with thousands of butterflies. The sensation was escalated with Revan's lips brushing lightly against her own in a delicate kiss. There was no lust in it, no desire. Only pure, most real love. She smiled against his lips, returning his feelings with her own similar ones.

"Mine?" Revan asked quietly when they finally broke, gasping for air. Bastila smiled even wider at that.

"Yours" she replied simply before adding. "As you're mine."

"As I'm yours" he replied, crushing their lips together.

There were no vows. None were necessary. In these few words, they expressed their never-ending love, devotion, and faithfulness to one another. They continued to enjoy their sweet moment of privacy, knowing that it wouldn't last long. But the Galaxy and everything else could go screw itself. In that moment, only they mattered. They and the love between them.

They knew that it wasn't long before they had to leave Tatooine, so they decided to use in the fullest what little time was given to them. Passion returned to them, showing itself in every kiss they were sharing, in every move of their hands.

Bastila straddled Revan, taking him fully inside of her. The sound of their bodies hitting each other echoed across the room.

A dozen or so minutes later Bastila collapsed on top of Revan, kissing him passionately on the lips. The man beneath her returned the kiss eagerly, holding her face with both of his hands.

Soon they stood up, and began to leave, dressing quickly. They had little to no time before the departure to Manaan. They exited the house with their hands locked.

Revan and Bastila walked together into a new life. For the entire Galaxy, this day was just like any other day. But not for them.

For the two of them, it was their first day of the life of being a husband and wife.

Okay, guys, this is it, I hope you enjoyed this little fluffy scene between Revan and Bastila. Sorry for the lack of action in this chapter, but in the upcoming chapters you'll all get much more fighting, duels and all that. I hope you enjoyed this chapter; as always, I ask you to leave your thoughts in the comments below. As I said, you can expect the next update in one week. See you in the next chapter!