Jade's POV:
It's quiet in the meadow today, the children must be meditating in the temple. As I walked over the hill, I saw my best friend Obi Wan Kenobi sitting in the field of flowers. I could tell from his energy and his pose, he was feeling something. He doesn't often show emotion nor does he ever stay in the garden alone, so I knew something had to go wrong on that mission to Tattooine. The day he left he was upset. They had been on Mandalore for months before coming home for 2 days. After those brief 2 days, they went to Tatooine for another mission. He hated going from mission to mission. This mission, however, only lasted 4 months which I was curious as to why he was back so early and why he didn't send me a hologram to come meet him. On average, he's been gone for close to a year. As questions formed in my head, I walked toward him. Obi Wan looked up with tears in his eyes. He got up and wrapped his arms around me. As he buried his head in my neck and took a deep breath, I played with his Padawan braid. I missed his hugs and how safe they made me feel. His hugs were different when he was sad. They were tighter and longer.
"Obi, when did you get back?" I asked, taking in his hug. At the sound of my voice, his breath got shaky and his lips let out a little sob. I pulled from the hug and sat us down on the grass gently. His sobs continued as my mind raced of a million different things that could've happened.
"Obi, what happened?" My voice was soft. I hadn't seen him like this in a long time. His sobs got louder and he put his head on my shoulder. As I held him, he cried into my shirt. I stroked his hair and let him break. I knew he needed to let out some of his own emotion before telling me.
"He's gone. J he's gone" he said. His voice was broken and shaky. I was confused as to who he meant. I remembered last week during training I felt death in the force, but didn't question it. It must have been someone close if I felt it though.
"Who's gone Obi?" I wiped his tears to look in his eyes. His eyes held pain. My heart ached at the thought of something Qui Gon. Qui is a family friend and he hadn't contacted me in over a week. Qui and Obi were the only family I had that was not a power lord.
"Last week, on our mission, Qui Gon encountered Sith Darth Maul. They were fighting and when I came in, Maul stabbed him. Jade I'm so sorry." My heart shattered as his rushed words fell from his mouth. As much as I wanted to, I didn't cry. I had to be strong. After a few minutes, his crying had stopped and he looked at me. He laid in the grass and pulled me to his chest. Something I had missed.
His heartbeat was unlike any other. It was always calm and sleep inducing. His shirts were always soft, and his chest was like a perfect pillow. Not too hard but not too soft. His breathing was slow and steady. His breath sounds were like a cool summer wind, and I was a tree. His hands were rough with calluses and yet they felt like soothing lotion on my skin. His lips were beautiful. They were full and a shade of pink that you'd find in a pastel sunrise. His stubble marking how much he'd changed when he was gone. His eyes were like oceans. If you didn't swim, you'd drown. Sometimes, I let myself drown. His eyes tell stories like no other. Tales of adventure and fantasies of love. Stories of old and new. Legends and history. The Jedi younglings enjoy his stories. His hair was perfect. Always soft, never rough. Easy to mess with. That was unlike his mind. He is intelligent, always 5 steps ahead of the enemy. He was sharp and not phased easily. If anyone deserves to be a master, it's him.
"Obi," I paused "does this mean that you're a master now". I sighed. If only he knew how much it hurt to see him like this. If only he knew there could be more.
"I finish training with Yoda and then I am taking in my own Padawan. His name is Anakin. Dad, I mean, Qui thinks he's the chosen one. The one that will save us." His voice was sad. Obi Wan looked to Qui Gon as more than just a Jedi master, Qui was like his dad. I felt for him, he's my best friend.
"J, why are you acting so strong? You were close to-"
"I don't wanna talk about it right now obi. Right now I just wanna enjoy this. I missed you." I said but I won't deny the fact that I almost broke. As I got comfortable on his chest, I could feel his breath hitch and his chest tighten. I could tell his emotion changed when I got comfortable. Greif always made him tough. He could go from loving to strict really quick.
"The Jedi Code says you shouldn't get too attached. You should know that by now." He said, his voice bitter. He never acted like this before when I told him that I missed him. He usually said it back. I knew it was the grief talking but I was still hurt.
"Okay if this is about what happened on Alderaan-"
"No I'm just saying that you of all people need to learn how to not attach. Don't think too much of it Jade." He said as he played with my hair. We don't fight often, but when we do, it doesn't end well. I wasn't attached to him. I was worried for him because Tatooine was not safe and he hardly called me.
"I don't attach easily, Kenobi. I'm not attached. I was worried about you. You were gone for 4 months and I was here without you. You're the only family I have," pausing, I got up, "but don't think for one second that I can't live without you, because I can." I walked away. I was at my limit. I had to leave. If I didn't, I would've snapped. I started walking to the library. The library is where I find my peace. He followed but I didn't pay attention. I needed space and time to think. After about 2 mins, he stopped following me. He's not the only one who grew while we were apart. Dooku wasn't easy on my training and I had learned how to block off emotions.
I reached the library only to see a lot of people. I sighed and walked to my quarters. My phone was going crazy. Probably Obi Wan but honestly, I honestly didn't want to care. I needed some time. I had been training for days at no end and with work right after training most days, I was worn out. Today was my only day of free time for a while. I should spend it with Obi Wan, but obviously he was not in the mood. I tried to meditate, not only to drown out the rings, but to get a clear head. The rings only got louder with each minute I was meditating. Finally, I caved and looked at my phone.
3 missed calls from Obi Wan
20 Messages from Obi Wan
5 emails from Obi Wan
My eyes filled with tears. I threw my phone and curled up in a ball. I couldn't hold it back anymore. The tears were hot and my sobs were quiet. We live right next to each other and I didn't want him to hear me cry. We did most things together. We are best friends and it hurt to fight with him. Qui Gon was usually there after a fight. He always was fair. I just needed time to grieve before I could see him again. I had to grieve not only Qui Gon, but the never ending pain I felt for Eric. I held my necklace with my engagement and my parents' wedding rings on it. As I cried, I could feel the peaceful embrace of sleep fall over my body. My body relaxed and I let sleep in for a hopefully peaceful nap.