Chapter Seventy-Two

Later, once their breaths had slowed and their bodies had calmed, Qui-Gon turned and cupped Cian's face in his hands. He kissed her deeply, then pulled away and looked at her.

"How do you feel, love?"

She smiled, her dark gray eyes glowing. "Like heaven."

"Was I...did I...?" he quickly cleared his throat, "did you enjoy it?"

"Oh, yes, my love. I never imagined it could be..." Then realization dawned on her face.

"Qui-Gon," she said, her voice astonished. "Surely you weren't worried about such a thing?"

Qui-Gon smiled sheepishly down at her. "I'm no longer a young man, Cian. And it has been awhile."

"Well, there is a lot of gray here," she said as she tugged at his beard, her eyes dancing.

"That hurts," he said laughing.

"But, as my old nursemaid used to say, there may be snow on the roof, but there's still fire in the oven."

Qui-Gon shook his head, his eyes baffled, but smiling.

"I'm not sure whether that was a compliment or an insult."

Cian laughed again and Qui-Gon thought he had never heard a more beautiful sound in all the universe. And she was actually glowing as she lay in his arms; her eyes, her skin, everything. He pulled her close.

"Qui?"

"Hmmmmm?" he said as he softly nuzzled her neck.

"Where did you, how did you know to...?" She quirked her mouth. "I know you didn't learn such things as part of your Jedi training."

He laughed softly. "No, I did not. I learned such things from the Daughters of Shakara."

Cian's eyes widened. The Daughters of Shakara was an all-female order who regarded the physical act of love as a means of worship of Shakara, the High-Mother goddess of love and fertility of the planet Annusa. Their temples were scattered throughout the Republic and, although they were looked upon by most as nothing more than courtesans and prostitutes, Cian knew they were actually a very serious and devoted order who were quite selective as to whom they allowed within their temple walls

"You've been to their temple here on Coruscant?"

Qui-Gon nodded. "Yes, when I was sixteen." He shrugged. "I was curious. I wasn't even sure they were going to admit me, but they did."

"Who were you assigned to?"

"A woman named Sirijana."

"What was she like?"

He looked down at her. "Do you really want to know?"

"Oh, yes. I may even send her a thank-you note for having been such a good teacher," she said, her eyes sparkling.

Qui-Gon smiled, then took a deep breath. He gazed for a moment up at the ceiling as his hand slowly stroked her arm.

"She had green-gold skin. Black eyes. She was...exquisite. She instructed me in all the ways to pleasure a woman. She said I was the finest student she'd ever had."

"Did you love her?"

"Yes, I suppose I did. But remember, I was only sixteen. I really didn't know what love was. When Yoda found out I'd been going to their temple, he gave me a proper scolding."

"But why?"

Qui-Gon shrugged. "I was a bit rebellious in my youth and Yoda was afraid I would be distracted from my path."

Cian shook her head. "Amazing. And here I thought I knew you so well."

He smiled down at her.

"What happens now, Qui-Gon?" she asked as she stroked his chest.

"What do you want to happen?"

"You answer a question with a question. Always the diplomat, aren't you? Not all questions have to be answered, you know?'

"True, but in this case, indulge me."

Cian nestled her head deeper into his neck.

"All right. I want to spend the rest of my life here with you, like this, forever."

"We'd starve to death," he said.

"We could live on love."

"We'd get bored."

"Speak for yourself," she said as she ran her hand slowly over him.

Qui-Gon laughed softly. "Fair enough. Hear me then, O Universe," he called out, "my Lady Cian has requested that time cease its flow and she and I be allowed to remain here, in her warm sweet bed, together, for all eternity."

"Shhhh," she said as she hit him playfully on the chest, laughing all the while. "You sound like one of those simpering courtiers from those awful Old Republic holovids Obi-Wan loves so much."

"Speaking of, I think he's watched that holovid of "The Scarlet Baron of Corellia" you gave him for his birthday at least a dozen times already."

Cian shook her head in amazement. Then she lifted her face and looked up at him.

"Qui-Gon?"

"Yes."

"There's something I've always wanted to ask you. About Aalea."

Qui-Gon's brow lifted. "What about her?"

"Why does she mean so much to you?"

Qui-Gon didn't answer right away. He turned his head and looked up at the ceiling. Cian waited.

He took a deep breath, released it, turned back to her.

"I knew her mother," he said.

"Her mother? Is Aalea your---?"

"No, she's not my daughter." He sighed. "What happened, how Aalea came to be born..." He shook his head.

"You don't want to talk about it," Cian said.

"Not now. Maybe someday I'll tell you."

She nodded.

"Qui-Gon," she said after a moment, as she ran her fingers through the hair on his chest, "do you remember when we first met, back on Dyran, when I snuck up on you as were going through the things in my tent?"

"I was not going through your things," he said, a trace of laughter in his voice, "I was performing a standard Jedi reconnoiter of the premises."

"Is that what you call it?" Cian said, her eyes teasing as she tugged at his hair. "I call it being nosy. Anyway, there you were, this great big Jedi sneaking around...ow," she cried as he dug his elbow gently in her side.

"All right, performing your 'reconnoiter' and I remember thinking, by the Lady, he's huge! I mean, yes, I did have my blaster pointed at you, but I was pretty sure if you'd wanted to, you could have easily taken it from me."

Qui-Gon shrugged, his eyes dancing as he looked over at her.

"As I recall you threatened to---now, what was it? Oh, yes, 'blow my brains out of my skull?'"

Cian laughed. "And all the time I was so afraid. Then when I told you to stand up and you did and you kept going up and up, I could hardly keep my blaster on your neck."

Qui-Gon smiled at the memory. "I remember."

Cian's eyes softened.

"Well, would you believe me if I told you I fell in love with you the moment you turned and faced me?"

Qui-Gon cocked his head, his brows raised.

"Hmmmm, considering the fact that at the time you were holding a blaster at my head and threatening to blow me into a million pieces if I made any sudden moves, please forgive me if I find that a little hard to believe," he said, chuckling.

Cian snuggled closer to him. "All right. So maybe it wasn't then."

"When then?"

Cian looked up at him. "When what?"

"When did you first know you loved me?"

"Well, when I healed you of the poison from the Sith blade, you were unconscious and I wanted you to wake up because I was so lonely and afraid. Then I thought of a story my nursemaid used to tell me, about the magical kiss which would awaken the sleeping prince. So I kissed you."

Qui-Gon looked down at her, surprise in his eyes. "You kissed me?"

Cian nodded. "Just a little kiss. Afterwards I felt so silly for having done so. But, you were so big and strong and yet, at that moment, as you lay in my arms, you were so helpless. All I wanted to do was protect you. Looking back, I know that's when I fell in love with you."

"That was ten years ago, Cian."

"Yes, I know. A lifetime ago." She looked up at him. "What will happen now, Qui-Gon? With us, I mean?"

He sighed and slowly moved his hand through the richness of her hair.

"I can't honestly say. I care for you, very much, more than I thought I ever could, but..."

"But you're not willing to give up your life in the Order."

"No, not yet. However, I have been thinking lately about a new direction for my life. Soon I am going to recommended Obi-Wan for the Trials."

"Really? Oh, he'll be so pleased. What made you decide to do so?"

"This bond thing with Aalea. It worried me. I wanted him to see he had made a decision ten years ago, a decision which saved Aalea's life. It was important for him to learn one must never regret."

"But what does Obi-Wan's taking the Trials have to do with us?"

"Once Obi-Wan has been knighted, I'm not going to take on anymore padawans."

"But why?"

"I'm getting old, Cian. This dashing about the galaxy, putting out political brush fires is for the young. There is much I could do at the Temple which would keep me on Coruscant." He looked deep into her eyes. "We could spend more time together."

"I wouldn't want you to do it just for me," she said quickly. "Do it only if it's what you truly want. Personally, I think you like dashing about the galaxy."

"Perhaps. But it is something I am considering. Among other things."

"Other things?"

Qui-Gon drew Cian closer to him. She nestled her head in his shoulder.

"What do you think," he began softly, "about us getting married?"

Cian's breath caught in her throat. She lifted her head and looked up into his face. He gazed down at her, his eyes warm, a gentle smile on his lips.

"You're joking, of course," she said, then bit her lip.

"I would never joke about a thing like that, Cian," he said as he moved his finger across her mouth.

"I don't know what to say, Qui-Gon."

He frowned slightly. "Is it that you have no wish to marry me?"

"No," she cried. "Oh, my dear," and she lifted her hands and clasped his face. "No, that's not it at all. I just don't want you to think you have to marry me. I would be honored to be your wife, of course, but only if it's what you truly want, my love."

He nodded, stroked her cheek with his hand.

"This is not a casual thing to me, Cian. You are and shall be my only love. Know that."

"I do. I do know that. But, we don't have to rush into anything. I am content." She hugged him tightly. "To be with you like this is more than I had ever dreamed possible. Therefore, I'm not in any hurry, my love. When we marry, I want you to be absolutely certain in your heart and in your mind that it's truly what you want."

He kissed her. "Now I know why I love you so much."

Cian smiled. Then she looked up at Qui-Gon's face. Reaching up she drew her finger down his crooked nose.

"I've always meant to ask you. How did this happen?"

He didn't answer her at first, only looked over at her, his eyes sparking with laughter.

"Yoda broke it," he said finally, a smile fluttering about his mouth.

"But, how? Why?" she asked.

"It happened, long ago, when I was his apprentice." He chuckled softly at the memory. "Let's just say one afternoon I wasn't being particularly attentive during a very important lesson. But, are you sure you want to hear about that now? Or would you rather...?" and he moved his hand slowly over her breast.

Cian shivered.

"I would very much like to hear the story," she murmured as she slipped her arms about his neck and lightly kissed him on the tip of his nose.

"But later. Much later."

Qui-Gon laughed softly, then quickly lowered his mouth onto hers.

To be continued...