"You may go in now, Talon. She's just waking up and I'm sure it's your face she would rather see first, than mine," Healer Iniki smiled. "I've examined them, and both mother and son are in top shape. You may take them home whenever you wish."

Talon again thanked the Master Healer and her two assistants for saving his wife and babe. He was anxious to be reunited with his family. Carefully, he opened the door and stepped in. Flora was leaning back against a mound of pillows. A smile graced her berry-red lips as she turned to face him.

Leaning down, Talon captured her lips for a long kiss that told her what he felt for her. Stroking back a few wayward curls at her temple his fingers drifted down to caress her cheek. She turned her face to nuzzle his hand and graced his palm with a kiss.

Picking up her hand he clasped it to his heart. The sun streaming in through the window cast a warm glow across her and their babe.

"Hello, my beautiful, brave, extraordinary wife." he kissed her palm with each honorific. "How do you feel this morning?"

Flora was still a wee bit groggy from having just awakened. She smiled. "I... feel fine, husba--." A jolt of fear shot through her and one hand flew to her abdomen. She looked down to see her belly still large. Her other hand squeezed tightly over Talon's fingers.

" 'Tis all right, my rose. 'Tis all right. Master Healer Iniki has assured me all is as it should be. Our son is safe, right where he should be." He placed a hand over hers, over their son.

Flora's aqua-teal eyes locked onto his dark brown eyes and saw the truth there. Her babe would be fine. She rested back against the pillows. Closing her eyes briefly she gave a quick prayer of thanks.

On the heels of one emotion came another jolt. Her eyes went wide with fear as she looked at the door. "Paul--" she squeaked.

"Relax! Paul will never again cloud our lives, Flora. He is dead," he stated in a cold voice.

Refusing to let go of her hand, even for a second, he related all Paul had revealed during the blood challenge.

"So, 'twas he who was the Ghost Knight. 'Twas he who murdered my brother."

"Aye, that is true." He drew a deep breath. "I am sorry for the loss of your brother. I would have liked to have met him."

Flora nodded, "At last I can put that part of my sorrow behind me... Thank you for telling me." A single tear rolled down her cheek and fell onto her gown. A single, last tear for her brother.

A few moments of quiet passed before Talon broke the silence. "Flora?" he asked tentatively.

"Aye?"

"You know I have been planning a very special surprise for you?"

"Aye. I could feel thine excitement, yet you refused to tell me aught." She leaned her head back to study the hopeful light in his eyes.

" 'Twas what I was requesting permission for the day...I left you in the garden. The Council has granted it. Now I must only ask you..."

Now Flora's curiosity was peaked. What was this big surprise her husband was keeping from her?

Standing tall, and still holding her hand, Talon took another deep breath and opened his eyes. "Lady Flora? Will you marry me?"

Surprise lit her face, then she chuckled, "But, we already *are* married to each other, *husband!* "

He chuckled, too, then explained his meaning. "I would like to marry you, this time in the Jedi manner. And then, when you feel up to it, when you are ready for such a trip, I would like to take you to my homeworld. I want my family to know you. And, I would like to marry you again, according to the traditions of my people."

"Married thrice and never once a widow?"

"Aye, married thrice and each time to the same woman," he smiled.

"Oh, Talon," a catch in her voice stole her words, so she nodded. "Of course I shall marry you, again and again if need be. I will marry you as many times as you would ask."

She reached up with one finger to trace the dimples that always took her breath away, and nearly wept for the joy in her heart.

He bent down to kiss his bride.

"When shall we set the date?" she inquired.

"I will leave that to you, my heart."

She pulled his head down for another kiss and deepened it as she felt a small bubble of joy radiate from her son.

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

"...Ladies and Gentlemen, I present Knight Taren Talon Savlon and his wife, Lady Flora!" A loud voice echoed off the ceiling as the newlyweds were presented to the crowd assembled in the garden. The fanfare of cheers and noisemakers made any speech impossible.

Beaming with love, Flora looked up to her husband. He stood tall and proud. His hair had been trimmed and his face clean shaven. His chausses and tunics were freshly pressed and his robe freshly laundered. His black boots were polished to a high gloss. He was the very image of what a Jedi Knight should look like.

Talon's gaze drifted down to admire her. Dressed in a flowing gown of snow- white silk, Flora's hair was braided into a white crown about her head. White rose buds peaked out through the thick plait. Small pearls entwined in her hair glittered in the sunlight streaming in through the glass windows that faced the east. Crystal beads sewn onto her dress created tiny rainbows as she stood at his side. Talon's breath hitched in his throat as he smiled at the beauty beside him.

Tears of joy filled their eyes as they let their heart speak for them.

In the background a small band began to play.

"May I have this dance, my Lady-wife?"

"Aye, this dance and many more to come, my Lord-husband."

Slowly, Talon escorted her to the center of the dance floor and took her in his arms. The song they chose for their first dance together spoke directly from their heart.



_____Hold me, hold me. _____

_____Never let me go until you've_____

_____Told me, told me, what I want to know. _____

In their memory, they relived the night they gave their heart and soul into each other's care.

_____And then just hold me, hold me_____

_____Make me tell I'm in love with you. _____

Together, they felt a flutter in their stomach as they remembered the pleasure of sharing their passion at night, and in many ways through out the days.

_____Thrill me, thrill me. _____

_____Walk me down the lane_____

_____Where shadows will be, will be_____

_____Hiding others just same as_____

_____We'll be, we'll be_____

_____When you make me tell you I love you. _____

Each recalled his playfulness as he would find new ways to cause her to forfeit a kiss. A penalty she was ever willing to pay.

_____They told me, 'Be sensible with your new love. _____

_____Don't be fooled thinking this is the last you'll find.'_____

_____But they never stood in the dark with you love_____

_____When you take me your arms_____

_____And drive me slowly out of my mind. _____

In silence, they spoke from their hearts. Both felt the deep love forged betwixt them.

_____Kiss me, kiss me. _____

_____And when you do I know that you will_____

_____Miss me, miss me_____

_____If we ever say adieu. _____

_____So kiss me, kiss me. _____

_____Make me tell you I'm love with you. _____

_____Kiss me, kiss me. _____

_____And when you do I know that you will_____

_____Miss me, miss me_____

_____If we ever say adieu. _____

_____So kiss me, kiss me. _____

_____Make me tell you I'm love with you. _____

As their song ended, their lips met for a heart-felt kiss felt through out the Temple.

_____Never, never, never let me go. _____

_____Never, never, never let me go... _____



@}--- @}--- @}--- Epilog @}--- @}--- @}---

Flora pressed a hand against her lower back, groaning at the latest "beach ball" joke. For months she had to endure the good-natured joking at her expense. She knew it was coming her way; she had heard jokes aplenty in the past when a mother neared her time.

She looked around at the flurry of activity here in the crèche garden. This was time for recess and all the youngsters were bundles of energy. She loved working here. She enjoyed caring for all the little darlings and their equally feisty pets.

"So your husband will go back to active duty after the baby is born?" asked a fellow crèche worker.

Flora nodded, "That is right, Nan. These past couple of months he has traveled with Master Ramer for a few short missions -- just to get him back into the swing of things again. I miss him when he is away, but I have every confidence in him and his abilities. And, I know he misses it as well."

"I'm so happy for you Flora. You've found the kind of love rarely seen outside of fairyta -- Oh no you don't! Excuse me, Flora, time to rescue a kitten!" Nan raced off to the other side of the garden to rescue an overly energetic kitten playing with a ball of yarn larger than it was. Chuckling, Flora shook her head. It was certainly never a dull moment in the crèche.

A cramp, stronger than others she had felt that morning caught her by surprise. She lowered her head and bit her lip so as not to cry out and possibly frighten any of the children. Her shoulders jerked as a new sensation came upon her. She felt a trickle of liquid warmth betwixt her legs.

When she looked up again, there was a young lad standing next to her. Reaching out, he put one hand on her shoulder. "Are you all right, Lady Flora?"

She looked kindly at this lanky, too-tall-for-his-age lad with two front teeth missing. He swiped a hand across his forehead to push back his longish, brown hair. His sparkling, blue eyes held a gentle light in them.

Flora drew a breath and nodded, "Aye, Qui-Gon, I will be all right. Would thee do me a big favor?"

Always eager to help, the child nodded.

"Find Master Yoda and tell him, ' 'Tis time.' He will know what I mean."

Qui-Gon went off running into the brush yelling at the top of his lungs, "MASTER YODA! LADY FLORA SAYS IT'S TIME!... MASTER YODA..."

Smiling at the exuberance of youth, Flora shook her head, chuckling.

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

Flora looked up at her husband. Her face was bathed in sweat. Snow-white tendrils framed her face. Talon held onto her hand as he helped her ride another wave of pain. All throughout her labor he had been at her side, using the Force to absorb some of the pain. He was amazed at its strength. He had no idea what women throughout the ages were forced to endure to bring a new life into the world.

Even though there were medications to ease the pain, Flora had stubbornly refused them.

"One last time, Flora...and...PUSH!"

With one more grunt, Flora felt her son slip forth.

Talon's hand clasped her's tightly as he felt his son's birth. "Welcome to the world, my son," he whispered.

At last, Healer Iniki placed a small, wrapped bundle into her arms. A great joy shone brightly in her aqua-teal eyes. Tears ran down her face as she pulled back the soft blanket. She turned to see her husband also had tears in his eyes.

A babe with dark brown hair and aqua-teal eyes waved his tiny fists. Through the Force, his father welcomed him with all the love in his heart. Both his father and mother felt the loved returned in equal measure.

"What is this?" Talon moves back a portion of the blanket to examine a mark on his son's bicep.

'Twas a birthmark in the shape of a stylized falcon swooping down upon its prey.

Smiling to each other, mother and father agreed.

" 'Falcon,' shall be his name."

@}--- @}--- @}--- FIN @}--- @}--- @}---