The Color of Truth: The Places in Between

Chapter Twenty-Three

I stood outside of Leia's bedroom door and paused. She was too old to be tucked in, I argued with myself. When had that happened? Wasn't she just a little girl yesterday?

The stark realization she was now a young lady occurred to her father and me the moment we saw the blush upon her face when she and Jaxson returned to the fire. For a moment, we had lost sight of them behind a large tree, but it was obvious what had happened.

And now, I was beginning to look at this Jaxson character with a far more skeptical eye. How dare he take advantage of our daughter!

/She seemed willing enough to me,/ Obi-Wan told me silently.

/Don't say things like that!/ I warned him. /I'm not ready for it!/

/Neither am I, but there's very little we can do to stop it – other than lock her in her room with Force restraints on, of course./

"You're right," I told him once I'd entered our own room. Obi-Wan had already gotten ready for bed and was busy reading something Qui-Gon had given him. When it came to reading for pleasure, I preferred to indulge in something romantic. What was presently occupying my husband's time looked far too technical for anyone to enjoy.

"What do you think about this Jaxson kid?" I asked as I prepared for bed myself.

"I haven't made up my mind yet," Obi-Wan told me, setting aside the bound volume. "Leia likes him and she has a good head on her shoulders. Maybe we should stay out of it and let her decide for herself."

"And if she gets hurt in the process?" I asked while my heart began to ache at the thought.

"Padmé," Obi-Wan told me softly. "We can't control what happens to her much longer. She's becoming a woman and will have her share of ups and downs, just like we did."

"I know," I told him sadly while I plopped down onto a stool and began to wash my face, dipping a linen cloth into a ceramic bowl of water that had been mixed with local cleansing herbs. "But did you see the way he grabbed her? I mean, didn't that seem a bit aggressive to you?"

Obi-Wan chuckled. "She didn't seem to mind."

"You're not taking this seriously enough," I complained. "We know very little about this boy and he seems determined to lead our daughter astray."

Once again, I recognized an expression of patronizing humor on his face. "Is that what he's doing? I just thought he was flirting a little, although most likely he did kiss her behind that tree."

"See?" I argued. "Is she ready for this sort of thing?"

"She'll be sixteen next week. Why I was only thirteen when I had my first…"

Across the bond ran a shock of energy that stung us both, and I realized with some shame that it had come from me.

"Perhaps we shouldn't speak about the days before I knew you," I suggested playfully. Picturing Obi-Wan in my mind in the arms of another female was not something I wished to see! However, I couldn't seem to stop my brain from conjuring up a vision of him with someone else! Once again, a shock ran through the bond, strong enough this time that I winced.

"It wasn't like that," he told me before rising from the bed. He'd obviously seen the image I had formed and felt its after-effects.

It wasn't entirely my fault, I debated with myself. Most likely, the thought had been heavily influenced by some of the more erotic texts Dela had allowed me to borrow recently. I really should start censoring my own choice of reading material.

"I was clumsy and naive and it was embarrassing. I'm a grown man and I know exactly what I want. I won't ever risk that," he pointed out, kneeling before me while I sat gazing down at him. "What you and I share – what we've always shared can't be mimicked, diminished, or explained sometimes. Even during the heat of battle, my mind is on you and my strongest desire is to get back safely to you as soon as possible. I honestly don't believe it's because of this link we share.

I know early on we worried that this bond was manipulating and perhaps even influencing our feelings, but I'll have you know - if this thing suddenly vanished tomorrow, my love and devotion to you wouldn't. I will love you until my last breath."

While Obi-Wan spoke, my heart was filled to the brim as were my eyes. I tearfully fell into his arms and we rolled onto the floor, laughing and loving together.

I was too touched to speak and conveyed my thoughts silently while we lay on the floor together, holding each other fiercely. /I feel exactly the same, but you said that so eloquently!/ I teased. /Although you do realize we have a bed. This floor is cold!/

/Hey, you're the one who tackled me!/

/Care to go another round?/ I was suddenly in a playful mood, very happy with my life, and blessed in so many ways.

/Maybe this time, you'll let me win./

I smiled before the expression was lost in Obi-Wan's kiss. What had initially been lighthearted and mischievous play, turned into hungry and demanding intimacy.

/Bed…/ we both deliriously compelled the other simultaneously.

It was a race, which Obi-Wan won, and we fell together once again on top of the overstuffed mattress, groping and making out like newlyweds. I realized I hadn't even had time to undress. Although skin-to-skin contact during lovemaking had always been both our preferences, there wasn't time. I was too eager and could sense Obi-Wan was as well, and we came together quickly, only slowing down to catch our breath once it was over.

The bed linens were in disarray, our clothing hung halfway off our panting bodies, and once again we were on the floor. I wasn't sure when that had occurred actually.

"And that…" he gasped, still out of breath. "Had nothing to do with the bond, I swear."

"I know." I agreed, although I was still feeling ornery. "I'm amazed after all this time, you can still move like that. I mean, you are getting up there in years…"

His accusation I had just called him 'old' was followed by fingers prying into my ribs and waist as I squirmed and giggled. After I had begged him to stop for the third time, he looked down at me with a sparkling gaze and sweet smile.

"By the Force, you're beautiful," he spoke softly, the gleam in his eyes beginning to smolder.

"Care for round three?" I asked while pinching his backside.

He chuckled softly and kissed me a couple of more times. "You're going to be the death of me someday."

"I hope not," I told him, suddenly quite serious. "I need to be more careful. I'm very interested to see what you look like say… in thirty or forty years."

"Handsome," Obi-Wan informed me casually. "I'll be handsome."

"That you will. No doubt about it," I agreed happily before changing my clothes and returning to bed. I rolled to my side and Obi-Wan joined me, drawing me close to him.

I fell asleep in his arms oblivious to the troubles in the universe and even those just outside my door. At least for now.