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//What was that?!//
Arella sat straight up and pulled the Jedi cloak tightly around her. She had been sleeping soundly, dreaming about what it would have felt like to be kissed by Obi-Wan Kenobi, when a strange noise jolted her out of her slumber. Looking around the small clearing, she couldn't see much of anything amidst the deep black of night.
//The fire's gone out.// she realized.
The sound returned, so she sat dead still, her heart pounding uncontrollably in terror. It was almost like a low rumble that lasted for just a few seconds at a time, would stop, and then return again. Her eyes darted nervously from side to side as her imagination raced wildly to sift through all of the possible sources for such a sound.
//There it is again!// she screamed silently, almost ready to jump up and run from the unknown horror. Then, out of the corner of her eye, she saw a movement. Snapping her head toward it and squinting her eyes through the dark, realization hit her like a ton of bricks.
It was the Jedi..... and he was snoring.
Arella let out a huge sigh of relief and put her hand over her heart to calm her frazzled nerves. //How dare he frighten me like that!!!// she thought angrily. Anger was such a common reaction for her. It was almost second nature to instantly respond to people that way. //Not only did he wake me up and scare me to death, he's also let the fire go out!// Despite her confusing feelings for him, this could not go unpunished.
With a huff, she stood up and stomped over to his still sleeping, still snoring form, hoping with each step that it would wake him up. However, once she was close enough to make out his features in the moonlight, she stopped and her heart softened again. Obi-Wan was curled up into a ball, his arms wrapped tightly around himself desperately trying to keep warm. Arella grinned when she recalled his insistence that she use his cloak since he would have no trouble staying warm overnight.
Again, those crazy feelings returned from the place deep within her that had somehow changed towards this boy.... man.... whatever he was exactly. A few days ago, had she been in the same situation, she would have let him suffer the cold and selfishly wrapped herself in the cloak while he watched shivering. She never would have cared or dared to do what she was going to do right now.
Kneeling down beside him, she noticed how boyish and peaceful he looked when he wasn't frowning and trying to be such an 'adult.' Her heart did a little flip before she gently tapped his shoulder.
"Jedi Kenobi?...... Jedi Kenobi, are you awake?"
After a couple more nudges, Obi-Wan's eyes slowly opened and focused on Arella. Immediately, he sat straight up, his hand instinctively going to his light saber. "What is it?" he asked, jumping up and studying the small clearing. "Are you okay?"
Arella fought back a grin at seeing his hair all mussed from sleeping. Clearing her throat, she replied. "I'm fine....... it's just that...." Here is where her confidence wavered.
"Yes?" he asked.
Swallowing hard, she continued. "It's just that I'm really..... cold." There.... she had said it. No turning back now.
Obi looked to the fire only to realize there wasn't one. "Oh... I've let the fire go out. I'm so sorry, Arella. I'll gather some more wood and start another one immediately." He turned to go, but Arella grabbed the edge of his tunic and tugged it, urging him to sit back down.
"No, Jedi Kenobi. That's not necessary. It's probably only a couple of hours before dawn anyway." He slowly sat back down with a questioning look on his face. Arella glanced shyly at the ground and then back up to him. "I thought maybe we could..... share the cloak." Had she really said that?
The inquisitive look turned to one of suspicion as he pondered what the girl said. What kind of game was she playing this time? She seemed to enjoy baiting him and then making him look like a fool.
Arella continued her coaxing. "The, um, body heat from, uh, both of us would, uh, help to, uh, keep us warm.... don't you think?"
Of course it would help, that much was true, but Obi-Wan just wasn't too sure about how to respond. He studied her expression and did a quick mind touch to assure himself she was not acting with malice.
"Okay..... you're right," he said with a nervous smile. "We'll share."
Obi-Wan stood back up and helped Arella to her feet, careful not to pull so hard this time. Both avoided each other's eyes and felt a bit awkward, too, recalling the earlier events of the evening. However, Obi realized, he was a Jedi and was able to put duty above all else. His duty was to protect Arella Tenot, and right now that meant keeping her warm. A day or so ago, he would have cringed at the thought of holding her in his arms, but now.... it didn't seem quite so horrible.
Arella spread out the bedroll so that both of them could fit. Then they stood in silence for a moment, unsure of the next move. Finally, Obi-Wan plopped down on the mat, stretching to get comfortable. Interesting to him was the remaining anxious look on Arella's face. //Is she embarrassed?// he thought devilishly. Next, feeling a little mischievous, he patted the place next to him and did a quick double raise of his eyebrows. She quickly looked away, and if it had been light, Obi was sure she would have been blushing.
Taking a deep breath, she lowered herself down next to him. Then before lying down she shook out the cape so that it settled evenly over both of them. Neither knew quite how to position themselves without feeling embarrassed, but finally, they settled on their sides with her back to his front. That way they could be close without feeling too vulnerable.
Obi-Wan placed a hand on her arm and awkwardly snuggled in close behind her. He had to admit that he was now indeed much warmer than before.... but he couldn't be sure if it was just the cloak or the feel of Arella so close to him that was causing the sudden rise in his temperature.
//What are you thinking?!// he scolded himself. Only a day before he had been ready to throttle her for causing their crash which had left them stranded in the middle of nowhere. Her demanding, sarcastic personality had rubbed him the wrong way from the beginning of this mission. Yet over the past several hours, she had changed and become somewhat ...... likable.
She was physically very attractive, which he had easily ignored before, but now here he was cuddled up next to her soft, warm body, and it felt quite wonderful. Despite their time outdoors, her long, golden hair still smelled sweet and fresh, and he found himself breathing in her delicate scent..... and liking it..... A LOT! He forced himself to stop, trying desperately to retain his 'adult' Jedi demeanor, but it was getting more difficult with each passing moment with her in his arms. No other mission had called for action quite like this.
"Are you warm now..... and, uh, comfortable?" he asked her with a slight crack in his voice.
"Yes.... yes, I'm much better, thank you," she replied without looking back over her shoulder.
//I'm actually in his arms!// she kept saying over and over in her mind like a lovesick school girl. Even though she knew it was silly, she just couldn't help herself. Not only was she loving the warmth he was emitting, but simply feeling his firm body snuggled tightly against her was giving her goose bumps of pleasure. //I'm not going to be able to sleep!// she conceded, but it didn't matter. She was right where she wanted to be.
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"Well, look what we have here!"
Obi-Wan's eyes shot open and he sat up quickly, his sudden movement stirring Arella from her blissful slumber.
"What is it?" she asked, refusing to open her eyes. She didn't want to ever get up out of his arms, so she pulled the cloak snugly up to her neck and rolled over.
"Arella?" he whispered into her ear. His breath tickled, and she giggled still half asleep. "Arella?" His tone was more insistent this time, so she answered.
"What is it?"
"Wake up. We've got company."
