Chapter Sixty-Nine

Aalea's hand jerked in Obi-Wan's.

"Aalea," he cried. He looked down at her. Her eyelids fluttered. He glanced over at Qui-Gon and saw his master was also stirring. They were coming out of it. With a shudder, both Aalea and Qui-Gon opened their eyes.

Vati opened her eyes and sighed deeply and Shiro, who had been dozing in a nearby chair, woke up. Tydre opened his eyes and looked about him, a slightly dazed look on his face.

Obi-Wan's eyes darted between Aalea and Qui-Gon. They both looked a bit shaken, but appeared to be all right.

"Did you find her, Master?" Obi-Wan asked.

Qui-Gon looked over at Cian's bed.

"See for yourself, Obi-Wan."

Obi-Wan turned and was surprised and delighted to see Cian gazing back at him, her dark gray eyes warm. She smiled.

"Obi-Wan," she said softly, "Why, I do believe you've grown even more handsomer since I last saw you."

"Mistress Nyal," Obi-Wan cried, his eyes filling with tears.

Cian then turned to Aalea who was looking down at her, tears brimming in her violet eyes. She reached up and touched Aalea's padawan braid.

"What's this in your hair, dear? It's very becoming."

"A gift from Obi-Wan," Aalea whispered.

She then laid her head next to Cian's shoulder and sobbed. Cian reached over and stroked her hair.

"Shhh, don't cry, dove. Don't cry."

As Aalea wept on her shoulder, Cian looked up at Qui-Gon. Obi-Wan's heart jumped in his chest at the impassioned look that passed between them. Qui-Gon then slowly lifted Cian's hand and kissed it. She smiled at him. As Qui-Gon laid her hand down, Cian looked over at Shiro, Vati and Tydre.

"Sala Vati," she said. "You are here."

Shiro helped Vati over to Cian's bed. Qui-Gon stepped aside as the older woman approached.

"Yes, my dear," Vati said as she took Cian's hand. "I am here. And I am so glad you have returned to us." Then her dark orange eyes twinkled. "Have you forgotten so soon, Cian? I thought we had agreed we would not be so formal with each other."

Cian smiled. "Forgive me, Vati. And thank you. Thank you for being here. For helping me home."

Vati patted Cian's hand. Shiro then leaned down and kissed Cian on the forehead.

"Welcome back, Mistress Nyal. I cannot express, for fear my words would not do justice to what is in my heart, how very, very happy I am to look once more into your beautiful eyes so full of life. Yes, yes, welcome back, my good and dear friend, welcome back!"

"Thank you, First Minister," Cian said. She peered round to where Tydre stood by himself in a corner. She lifted her hand and beckoned him closer.

Obi-Wan could see trepidation in Tydre's eyes as he moved next to Cian's bed for he was the one who had betrayed her to Rukal.

"Mistress Nyal," he began. "I want to say....

Cian took his hand in hers.

"You don't have to say anything, Salu Tydre. I know it was you who took care of me when I was....away. Thank you."

Tydre dipped his head. He backed away and stood next to Shiro and Vati.

"What is going on in here?"

Obi-Wan turned and saw Cian's Jalatan doctor standing in the doorway.

"All you people should not be---."

The doctor stopped, her mouth open when she saw Cian was conscious.

"How? When?"

The doctor walked over and pulled a small medscanner out of the pocket of her jacket. She ran it quickly over Cian.

"Amazing," she murmured. She turned and looked at everyone.

"What happened? How did she---"

Qui-Gon gestured towards the doctor's medscanner.

"Is she all right, Doctor?"

"What?" The doctor started. She glanced at the medscanner.

"Yes, yes she's fine. A bit dehydrated, but I still don't...." Then the doctor's eyes sharpened.

"All right. All of you. Out. Right now. She's going to need her rest.

The doctor began shepherding them all out. Aalea kissed Cian on the cheek and promised she would be back in the morning. Obi-Wan reached over and kissed her also. Shiro, Vati and Tydre were already on their way out, Shiro calling back they would see her tomorrow.

Qui-Gon, however, had not moved from Cian's beside. He and the doctor conversed quietly. The doctor shook her head; then with a deep sigh, nodded.

Qui-Gon leaned over and lessened the light on the table next to Cian's bed. He then pulled up a chair and sat next to her bed.

"Come along, young man," the doctor said as she walked towards Obi-Wan who was standing by the door. "Your master is going to stay with her tonight. You, on the other hand, can come back in the morning."

The doctor gently, but firmly, pushed Obi-Wan ahead of her as she closed the door behind them.

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As Cian watched her friends leave, she smiled. When the door closed, she turned her head and gazed over at Qui-Gon. He looked back at her, his blue eyes full of warmth.

She still couldn't believe he was alive. When she had felt him die, it had torn her soul apart. Then, as Rukal had violated her, she had used her Force abilities to flee from the pain and the humiliation.

She hadn't been strong enough to escape him totally, thus she had built that tower in her mind on the landscape of horror Rukal had left within her, determined to spend all eternity there, if need be, mourning over the loss of her only love.

But he was here and he was alive and Cian drank of his presence as if he were sweet water quenching her soul's thirst.

She then thought of Vati, Shiro, Tydre, Obi-Wan and Aalea and realized how lucky she was to have such good friends. Suddenly, something she had observed between Obi-Wan and Aalea leapt to her mind.

"Did you see them, Qui-Gon? The way they were together?"

"See who?" he asked gently.

"Aalea and Obi-Wan."

Qui-Gon laughed softly. "Yes, I saw."

"And you are not displeased?"

"I am happy for them. But, I think as you noted before, they are still not completely aware of their feelings for each other."

Cian smiled. "That will come in time."

She sighed and closed her eyes for a moment. Then she opened them and looked over at Qui-Gon.

"Thank you for coming for me."

He leaned over and took her hand.

"As Sala Vati said, all the demons of hell could not have kept me from you." He bent down and kissed her forehead. "Do you forgive me?"

"Forgive you?"

"For not being there. For not protecting you."

Cian shook her head. "Don't blame yourself, dear." She reached up and stroked his face.

He nodded and kissed the palm of her hand.

"You should get some rest, Qui-Gon," Cian said as she noted the dark circles under his eyes.

"I will. Later. Remember, Cian, I am, after all, a Jedi. We can go weeks without sleep, or so it is said." There was a teasing light in his eyes.

Cian scoffed at that. He laughed. Then she sighed heavily. "I want to go home."

"Our transport to Coruscant will be here in a few days."

She nodded and then, like the remnants of a bad dream, she found herself remembering it again; the pain, the terror, the shame. Qui-Gon quickly took her hand.

"Don't think about it, Cian."

"How can I not, Qui-Gon?" she said, her voice filled with tears. "It happened."

"Yes, it did and that can not be changed. But that is the past, Cian. All that matters now is the future."

"The future?" she murmured.

"Yes, the future. Our future" He leaned close to her. His large hand cupped her face and held it gently.

"I love you, Cian," he said softly. "I love you more than life itself."

Cian felt her heart melting within.

"And I love you," she said, "but then, you always knew that, didn't you?"

Qui-Gon nodded. He then leaned over and kissed her softly. At the touch of his lips on hers, Cian's soul soared.

He pulled back. "Now, I want you to rest, my love."

He reached over and slowly stroked her hair.

"Go to sleep," he said and Cian felt him touch her mind with the Force.

As she fell into the gentle darkness and sweet silence of slumber, the last thing she saw were his eyes, full of love, gazing down at her.

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Obi-Wan looked around. The doctor had hurried away to answer a summons. Shiro, Tydre and Vati were also gone. Then he saw Aalea standing at the end of the corridor, her back to him. He walked quickly over to her and touched her shoulder.

"Aalea," he said gently.

Aalea turned and looked at him for a long moment. Then, without a word, she threw her arms about his waist.

***Oh, Obi-Wan. I don't know what I would do if I ever lost you***

Obi-Wan looked down in surprise as Aalea clung to him.

***Aalea, what are you saying?***

She pulled away from him and lifted her head, tears sparkling in her violet eyes.

"I love you, Obi-Wan," she whispered. "I love you so much."

Obi-Wan's heart turned over. He lifted his hands and slowly stroked away the tears at the corners of her eyes.

"And I love you, angel eyes."

They gazed at each other for a long moment. Then, Obi-Wan lowered his head and gently kissed her and, as Aalea returned his kiss, her mouth moving slowly over his, they flowed to each other through their Force bond.

**My love, my love. My sweet, sweet love**

**Yes, always, dearheart, always**

To be continued...

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Hi, Moonscribe here. Because there are some love scenes coming up in Chapters 70-76 and I know that some of you may like your love scenes a bit on the spicy side, (I know I do!) I have posted to the site an alternate version of Chapters 70-76. It's entitled Romantic Interludes and is rated NC-17.

And, just a gentle reminder; if you're not old enough, or are offended by sexual situations, please do not read Interludes. There is no difference in the plot between the original chapters and the alternate version so you won't miss anything if you choose not to read the NC-17 rated version.

Thanks!

Moonscribe