"Knight Savlon, eat you must. Rest, you must."

Pushing his hair out of his way, Taren looked down very briefly from his perch upon the ladder. "Nay, Master Yaddle, I can not. I must find a way back."

"Eat, you must, and rest," she ordered.

"I have no time to eat, Master Yaddle... Besides, I ate yesterday."

The diminutive Keeper of the Jedi Archives looked up at the young knight on the verge of losing his mind. For days now, the young man rested only when his body could no longer meet the demands put upon it. To eat, he stopped only long enough to wolf down one, maybe two ration bars and a nutritional drink to keep from becoming dehydrated.

Frustrated, he shoved yet another box of storage disks back into place on the high shelf.

"Careful with my archives, you should be, or I help you not!"

"My apologizes, Master."

Several days ago, Taren walked into Yaddle's office seeking permission to do some research. He came in search of any scrap of information, be it fact or legend or myth, on any phenomena related to the strange appearance, or disappearance of people.

He was determined to somehow find his way back to that ordinary world where few people had midi-chlorians. He sought any reference to the ordinary world where civilization was still primitive and sometimes very savage. He searched for a world where there was no Force; only the force of an all consuming love for a heart-mate.

His Master and Yaddle assisted him, more to keep a worried eye on him than anything else. They made certain he ate, and stood ready to catch him when he collapsed from exhaustion. Each day, the Masters noticed the toll this heart-felt separation was taking upon him. His disheveled appearance looked most un-Jedi. He continued to let his beard grow until he could no longer tolerate it. His hair was constantly in his eyes, and he was beginning to lose weight.

Master Ramer was truly becoming worried. It was becoming harder and harder to connect with his Padawan. It was as though Taren was tightening his shields farther about himself as he became even more withdrawn.

Healer Meador advised Naftel to tell her immediately when he could no longer connect through their bond. At that point, she would have no choice but to begin medication. Naftel feared that time was quickly coming.

@}--- @}--- @}---

The door opened to reveal Flora. The bruising on her cheeks and chin stood out as faded splotches against her skin. Her slivery mane flowed down her back. And, most importantly, Cress noted, the anxiety was gone from her eyes.

Occasionally, the Healer would feel a wave of discomfort emanate from his friend, but Flora always dismissed it.

"Ready?"

"Aye, I am ready."

"Splendid. I decided we should celebrate the first day of winter and the first snowfall," Cress replied as he guided Flora through the Temple. "I thought I'd show one of the gardens you haven't seen yet."

Flora smiled. "Ye have so many. And each is as beautiful as the next, Cress. By the Great Spirit, I vow 'tis hard to decide which I like best."

"Yet, I've noticed you most enjoy the orchard garden."

"Aye, I do. 'Tis much like the orchards at Falcon's Nest. The fragrance of the blossoms remind me of my home, my people...of what I left behind," she finished in a small voice.

"I think you will like this garden. It's called 'The Garden of a Thousand Fountains.' "

Flora's eyes widened at the thought. "Does it truly have a thousand fountains?"

Cress shrugged, "I don't know. I don't think anyone has ever taken the time to count then all, but it sure seems like it."

For a while the two friends wandered through the halls in silence, bowing in greeting to others they passed along the way. The Healer hoped that maybe, just maybe, the relaxing sound of water gently splashing over the rocks worn smooth over the generations would help Flora reach a deeper level of meditation. Perhaps today she would access more memories her trauma kept locked from her.

@}--- @}--- @}---

Being all but ordered to get some sleep, Taren wandered back to the apartment. His Master stayed beside him to ensure that he did reach his destination, even if he had to be carried.

Strangely, the more Taren walked, the more energized he felt. His lagging spirit seemed somehow brighter. He felt lighter, more like his old self. Naftel read this in his Force signature and so did not object when he decided to take the long way back.

@}--- @}--- @}---

'Twas a long, yet relaxing day in the garden. Indeed, Flora very much enjoyed exploring the many fountains. They ranged from small babbling brooks to a mid-sized waterfall. She wanted to stay longer, but something was strongly urging her to leave and leave *now*.

Vowing to return the next day, Flora stepped out into the hallway. Ahead of her, down the hall, were two men walking away from her. There was something peculiar about one of them. That same small voice that had been plaguing her nights began whispering again. Placing a protective hand over her babe she felt reality hit hard.

"Talon!" she whispered.

One of the knights turned around sharply. His jaw dropped as he drew a sudden breath. His eyes widened. He could not believe his vision. His world narrowed down to the small figure standing in the hall.

Slowly, cautiously, they stepped towards each other; afraid to move too quickly lest this be just another cruel dream decreed by Fate. Step by step, breath by breath, they drew nearer, until they stop just short, each unwilling to break the spell.

"Talon!"

"Flora?"

Tentatively they reached out. Fingertips stopped a hair's width away as the magic betwixt them began to flow from the heart. Dark brown eyes gazed deeply into aqua-teal. Two sets of lungs drew breath at the same time. Two hearts began to beat as one.

His fingers barely grazed her cheeks. Still afraid, he hardly breathed. Disbelieving this reality, he tentatively stroked her face and felt the warmth of her skin scorch his fingertips.

Flora grew more bold. Slowly, she raised one hand to stroke his chest, his arm, his face, in a feather-light touch.

Watching as fingers entwined, each felt the rush of passion they had long missed.

'Twas the love they feared they would never again feel. 'Twas the missing half of their heart they rediscovered.

"Talon. My beloved."

They cried out as they fell to their knees in a tight embrace.



_____Mine, immaculate dream, _____

_____Made breath and skin, I've been waiting for you, _____

_____Signed, with a home tattoo, _____

_____Happy birthday to you was created for you. _____

Neither were quite willing to believe this was real. From two hearts, disbelief mixed with wonder and joy radiated throughout the hallway.

_____Can not ever keep from falling apart...at the seams. _____

_____Can not believe you're taking my heart...to pieces. _____

_____Ahh, it'll take a little time, _____

_____Might take a little cry to come undone. _____

_____Now we'll try to stay blind, _____

_____To the hope and fear outside, _____

They remained blind to all but each other and the moment of rediscovery.

_____Hey child, stay wilder than the wind, _____

_____And blow me in to cry. _____

Talon lost all his Jedi-trained composure as he openly wept his joy.

_____Who do you need? _____

_____Who do you love? _____

_____When you come undone. _____

_____Who do you need? _____

_____Who do you love? _____

_____When you come undone. _____

For so long he had felt his sanity barely hanging on by a thread. For so long, without his heart's mate, he felt like he was ready to come apart.

_____Words, playing me déjà vu, _____

_____Like a radio tune I swear I've heard before, _____

_____Chill, is it something real, _____

_____Or the magic I'm feeding off your fingers. _____

In his mind, a tiny voice now bubbled with laughter. He now recognized it for what it was. His heart swelled with love. He felt he would burst with joy. Talon took one of Flora's hand and blessed each finger with a kiss.

_____Can not ever keep from falling apart...at the seams. _____

_____Can not believe you're taking my heart...to pieces. _____

_____Lost in a snow filled sky, _____

_____We'll make it all right, to come undone. _____

_____Now we'll try to stay blind, _____

_____To the hope and fear outside, _____

Flora's tears ran freely as they mingled with his.

_____Hey child, stay wilder than the wind, _____

_____And blow me in to cry. _____

_____Who do you need? _____

_____Who do you love? _____

_____When you come undone... _____



No longer did he fear losing his sanity; he found what he was searching for.

They looked into each other's heart as they declared their feelings.

"My heart."

"My love."

"My rose."

"My husband."



"My wife," Talon lowered a hand from her face to place it over her abdomen. "AND MY SON!" he cried.

Their lips met for a kiss the Masters Force-felt.

@}--- @}--- @}---

TBC...