~Chapter Four~

Once Jyana had the chance, she freed her hand from Obi-Wan's tight grip.  She looked at him for a second as they walked down the halls leading them away from the Council Chamber.  "I would ask you, Obi-Wan, to please stop doing that," she pleaded.

"I can't easily," he sighed, "I guess I missed you so much that I have to hold your hand to make sure you're really here."

"Well here I am.  I would rather you not touch me.  From the looks of our situation, you ain't going to lose me anytime soon."

"It still hurts that you left.  You didn't even say, 'Good-bye.'"

"Even if I had said good-bye, it would still hurt.  I'm back.  You'd think a grown man like yourself wouldn't be caught up in all that mess.  You'd think he would've got over that 15 years ago."

Her words smacked Obi-Wan in the face.  "I don't know why it hurt Jyana.  I wish I did, so I could make you understand."

"No need.  I figure things out easily, if I really cared, no offense.  How you feel is your business as long as it don't bother me none."

"I'm sorry but I don't think I can promise you anything that you asked me."

"That's all right, just don't do it, and you will not have any impeding injuries."

Huh?  He didn't bother asking.  He led her into a lift that directed them to a lower floor.  He shrugged off the threat.  "Jyana, how much time have you spent on Corellia?"

"Not enough, but I suppose a few years."

"You sound it."

"You mean there's a certain dialect that goes along with being Corellian?"

"Your Basic isn't too proper."

"I have never cared for proper Basic.  I don't even speak proper Ewok, although I am fluent in them both.  I speak the way that's comfortable for me."

He smiled.  She had always been different.  "So you've been on Corellia a few standard years?"

She looked off into the distance, as if counting and nodded.  "A few I guess, at least till I got myself an assignment."

"An assignment?"

"Amidala wanted a female Jedi bodyguard.  She was tired of the male Jedi that kept coming after her.  They weren't for her good, but for their own.  She's only had eyes for one Jedi, your Padawan."

"And he for her."

"So I could tell."

"The Council didn't assign you to do that though."

"They wouldn't have been able to.  I lost contact with the Council after I turned 18."

"Why is that?"

"I just never liked Coruscant.  It's too metallic for me, with no scenery that you can see due to all that darn pollution in the underworld.  I never found use for coming here so I just stopped corresponding with them because they kept bugging me to come back.  Master Yaddle was different.  She's always understood me.  She was the last member I saw, on Alderaan, and she never once pressured me to go back."

"What did she mean that you were too young?  Too young for what?"
He noticed that he had asked a question that she did not want to answer, but she looked as if she was going to answer it anyway.  "I'm not too sure.  I think maybe…" she paused, not really wanting to go on.  Obi-Wan waited patiently.  She lowered her voice.  "Maybe to fulfill that promise I made long ago."

"To Qui-Gon?"
Jyana nodded.  They stepped out of the lift into the hallway, in the quarters section of the temple, and paused a moment.  She looked around, recognizing the hallway.  It was the same one in which contained the suite that Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan had dwelled in when she lived with them.  She remembered that like it was yesterday.  Those were the days of no worries.           

"What did you promise Qui-Gon, Jyana?"

Softly she said, "Not to make the same mistake my mother made."  She started fiddling with the sleeve of her cloak.

Obi-Wan, understanding he had asked too much apologized, looking away, "I'm sorry to make you uncomfortable."

"You didn't mean to so it ain't your fault."

Obi-Wan started walking down the hall and turned around to face Jyana.  "Where are you staying?"

"Not sure.  Wokki usually handles those things."

"You're welcome to stay with Anakin and me.  There's plenty of room."

She bit her lip, unsure of what to make of the offer.  "We'll see.  I'll think about it."  I think Wokki's already made up that decision.

"Please do."  Obi-Wan walked on and motioned Jyana to follow, doing his best to control the urge to grab her hand.  Sheepishly, she followed, and placed her usual guard on herself, summoning all the strength that she knew she had somewhere within herself.  She had to maintain the strength that she was known for, yet hadn't shown itself much since she was with Obi-Wan again.  What's wrong with me?

My guess is that you have made one too many promises that you know you can't keep.

You have no idea.   

You're right, and neither do you.

The halls were silent of everything then, even thought, at the truth of that statement.  Somehow Obi-Wan knew her better than she thought he ever could.  She summoned her strength and placed her mind block on full power, thus blocking Obi-Wan from her rambling thoughts that she felt he had no business knowing.

Obi-Wan frowned.  She's got to stop doing that.

Through the mind block he heard a very steady, Never.

"I wonder what happened in the Council," Anakin thought aloud in Obi-Wan and his suite in the temple.  Wokki was with him and watching him as he promised Obi-Wan he would do.  For some reason he didn't trust his apprentice alone.

"I'm not sure," Wokki mused thoughtfully, "But we shouldn't worry on things that aren't our concern.  I have a test to put on you."

"Test?"  I don't like the sound of this.

"Yup."  Wokki climbed a small shelf although it was much bigger that he was.  He brought down a silver case and opened it, hiding from Anakin what was inside.  He brought out a lightsaber and handed it to him.  "What do you see?"
Oh this isn't too hard.  "A lightsaber."

"Beyond the obvious."

Anakin shifted the lightsaber around.  He carefully flipped it on and noticed the brilliant magenta color that emerged.  "She was brave and strong.  Very beautiful as well.  Many men fell for her, she never loved anyone except two, Qui-Gon one of those two."

"Her name was Vaya Angele," Wokki stated completing Anakin's train of thought, "Jyana's mother."
"Was what I saw correct?" he asked with uncertainty.

Wokki nodded.

"Is Jyana an angel?"

"Why do you ask?"

"Well, she's very beautiful, yet not like Padmé, I mean Queen Amidala.  I thought she was an angel, but I was wrong.  Is Jyana?"

"Half.  Her mother was, her dad is Corellian."

"Then how is she a Jedi?"
"Angels have the Force very strongly.  They have midi-chlorians basically off the scale, close to yours.  If they chose they want to use their potential as a Jedi, they can, but usually they don't."

"It's their choice?"
"Basically, we all have to chose our own paths.  We don't usually see what's predestined for us until we make our own decisions.  It was your choice to go with Qui-Gon so you could be a Jedi."

"I never thought of it that way before."

"Most of us never do."

The door opened and Obi-Wan walked in with Jyana behind him.  "It looks the same," she muttered to herself.

"I didn't change it much.  Only the rooms are different."

"Looks like I'm staying with you," she said after seeing Wokki and his menacing grin directed at her.

"I'm glad."

She looked at him.  "I see that.  Don't be too glad.  You may be disappointed."

Anakin looked up, noticing she was messing with Obi-Wan and figured he'd better save his Master from some hurt.  "Have you been to Iego, Jyana?"
She cocked her head and smiled.  "Once, why?"

"Are the angels as beautiful as the stories say?"

"I guess.  I have to admit I don't have much taste in female beauty.  Male angels are kinda plain, but you never hear of them.  Why do you ask?"

"Your mother was an angel."

"True," Obi-Wan said, "She was.  I was on Iego one time too and angels are the most beautiful creatures in the universe."  He was looking at Jyana when he said that.

"Stop with the flattery Obi-Wan, it'll just dig you into a huge pit," Jyana threw at him.

"How much do you look like your mother?" Anakin asked.

Jyana went into a pouch on her utility best and pulled out a holo cube.  "Judge for yourself."

It was the first time in decades since Obi-Wan remembered whom only he had called Master Vaya.  There were a few differences of course.  Vaya had blonde hair but the same style with the purple, which was purely natural.  The only difference between normal humans and angels was the different colors in their hair, not having only one color.  Another difference was that angels didn't have normal eye colors.  Vaya had purple eyes.  Jyana had got the brown hair and hazel eyes from her father, Jaciin Falson, but the rest was remarkably her mother.  Qui-Gon, he thought to himself, I understand now.  I understand perfectly.

"Wow!  Except for hair and eyes you are an angel."

A blush crept up Jyana's face but she quickly retaliated, "And Miss Amidala is one in disguise."

"Really?"

"That's what her daddy told me.  I met him once.  He's certainly a proud Papa.  He once asked me if all fathers thought their daughters were the most beautiful things ever.  I told him that's what my daddy says.  I may never be honestly the Princess of Corellia, but I'm still my daddy's little princess."

I knew it.   I do have his permission.  He told me that I was the only other man he wanted to see with his little princess, Obi-Wan remembered.

Nuts to that.

Obi-Wan took a deep breath sadly.  Oh well.  Now is not the time for that.

"And the adopted Princess of Endor," Wokki continued.

"Yeah," Jaina laughed, "I guess I'm cute enough to be an ewok aren't I?"
"Cute?"  Obi-Wan stifled a laugh as he thought I would call it something else.  She used to be though, that grew…

"I'm cuter," Wokki complained.

A smirk crossed Jaina's face as she shrugged Wokki's egotism off, not wanting to fight him on that issue.  "Yeah.  That's why I have me Wokki.  Whenever I need something cute to look at, there he is."

Wokki grinned and took a huge bow.  "Sir Cuteness at your service."

"All right," Obi-Wan said laughing, "Being the only one here that is currently a Master, I guess I have to voice reason and represent maturity."

"You mature?  Now this I have to see."  Jyana couldn't stop her own laughter.

Obi-Wan made a face in her general direction.  "It's getting late.  We have a big day ahead of us tomorrow.  Anakin, we must turn in."

He sighed and replied with sarcasm, "Yes Master."  He headed to his room.

Wokki brought out a gun and shot it upward and a string came out.  The end attached itself to the ceiling and he climbed and swung over to a ledge.  "I sleep up here.  I'll be out of the way."

"It's quite conventional.  The convenience of traveling with an ewok.  Never having to fight over whom gets the bed.  They're quite comfortable anywhere," Jyana remarked.

"Speaking of beds, we can share mine," Obi-Wan proposed.

"No we can't," Jyana said rapidly.

"That's what we used to do…"

"I was 5.  That was different."
"Not much."

"Very much."
"So.  Why would that matter?  We're good friends aren't we?"  I thought we were.

"Friends or not, now it wouldn't be proper."

"When did you start caring for being proper?"
"I grew up.  Besides, I really always have."

"Why can't we share now?"
"Would you like my daddy to come after you?"

"What trouble would he give me?"

"Plenty if he knew the situation."  No matter what.

"I'm really not scared of him."  Especially with his promise to me...

"D'oh.  Look who I'm talking to.  My answer is still no.  I'll sleep on the sleep-couch out here."
"No.  You take my bed, Jyana.  I'll take the sleep-couch."

"But…"

"Just take it Jyana.  It's much more comfortable than the sleep-couch anyway.  It's the least I can do."

"Now I don't need any visitors during the night, you hear?"

"Suit yourself."  He turned to the sleep-couch and then sat down on it while Jyana just stood there, looking in the room, but not entering it.  "Go on in and get some rest Jyana.  You're going to need it."

"Yes Master."

Was that sarcastic?

Not yet.

Yet?  Well, jeez I like the sound of that.

Don't.  You may not hear it again.

Why does she keep doing that?
Cause I can.  She entered his room to get ready to go to bed.

Obi-Wan shook his head and made himself comfortable on the sleep-couch and went to sleep within seconds.

A storm raged outside the Jedi Temple, across the vast city-planet of Coruscant.  It was another one of those dreadful thunderstorms that very seldom rage and always are a threat to those living in the metal buildings.  Thunderstorms were the only thing that man could not take away from Coruscant while the rest of the planet was man controlled.

Jyana felt the storm as well as heard it.  It continuously reminded her of the day her twin sister died, during the storm.  Many times she wished that her sister Jamyn Solo were still alive, only injured due to the lightning bolt that took her life.  Sometimes Jyana felt her presence, but she couldn't believe that she was still alive.  Due to that incident when she was 1 years old, she had always been dreadfully scared of thunderstorms.  On other planets it wasn't as harsh, her fear that is, but here on Coruscant, the planet that developed that fear in her, was a whole other story.  Every time lightning struck and thunder crashed, the fear took spark and Jyana was sure she jumped at least a meter high.  Man this fear sucks.  If only I could get some sleep.  Fear was conquering everything Jyana tried to do to get to sleep.  This was the only fear that she could not unlearn in her Jedi training, and Mace didn't seem to try to rid her of it.  There were some fears that were healthy, he said.  Is this one of them?  Why if it's healthy, does it kill me every time?  She didn't want to wake Obi-Wan with her petty fear because she felt only he could help her now.  But all of a sudden, thunder roared so loud and near that Jyana couldn't even her own mind cry, Obi-Wan!

Within seconds, he was in the doorway, alert, taking off his cloak and tossing it in a corner.  He sat down beside her and asked, "Changed your mind?"

I guess so.  Thunder crashed again, about the same time as lightning struck nearby, and Jyana jumped up, throwing her arms around Obi-Wan tightly, and buried her face into his chest.  Surprised, in a way, he put his arms around her lower back and with one hand rubbed her back.  He noticed she was a little tense but his gentle touch seemed to sooth her all right.  "I'm scared," she said, muffled against his tunic.

I can see that, he thought as he assured her, "It'll be all right.  I'm right here."  He just held her there for awhile.  "Do you want me to stick around tonight?"
She nodded against his chest.  Thunder rumbled again and she wrapped her arms around him tighter.  He carefully took her hands from around his neck and held them and pushed her away enough so that they could look into each other's eyes, although hers wouldn't meet his.  She shook harder when she was out of his embrace than when she was in it, so he carefully repeated while caressing her hands with his fingers, "Do you want me to stick around?"  She nodded her reply.  "Want me to disappear before everyone wakes up?"  She nodded again.  "Like you used to?" 

She nodded yet again.  Softy and voice shaking due to the fear within her, she said, "It may not happen again, so don't get used to it.  I do weird things when I'm scared."

"Thanks a lot."

She stuttered, "I'm sorry… I didn't mean…"

"That's all right Jyana.  I understand."  Obi-Wan lay down and pulled Jyana down next to him, with his arm protectively around her waist, underneath her Jedi cloak.  She leaned her head against his chest and had her hand on his shoulder, while her other hand grabbed her pillow.  Obi-Wan's other hand stroked her braids, comforting her the best he could.  They weren't touching anywhere else for that was not his motive.  He only wanted to ease her fear and make her not scared anymore.  He wanted her to trust him and show her that he cares for her.  He gently kissed the top of her head.  She looked up at him, and into his eyes.  He gazed into those hazel eyes and found himself moving his mouth towards hers.  She moved her head down quickly so Obi-Wan could only kiss her head again.  She started fiddling with his Padawan braid as she started to doze off.

"I missed you Jyana," he admitted, "I missed you in my arms.  I missed our friendship.  I missed… this."

"So did I," she said with a little more strength, "But it's not the same anymore."

"What changed?"

"We grew up.  We're not children anymore."

We're adults… "So…"

"This is not enough for most adults."

"Is it enough for you?"

Well…

"It is for me."

"For now, Obi-Wan."

"I don't care for anything else."

Yet.

"Quit trying to put words in my mouth, Jyana.  I mean it."

"I know."

"Then why are you saying I'm thinking what I'm not?"

"Cause you're a man."  And men think about it basically every 4 seconds.

"So…"

"Men think those things.  I know… too well."

"How?"  Why must she categorize all men in the same category?

"Dad told me.  Don't you think I can sense when a man looks at me, like that?"

Hmmm…

"You look at me different now Obi-Wan."

"Can I help it if you grew up on me?"

"No, I guess not."

"You are such a beautiful woman now, Jyana."

He didn't see the small blush creep up her face.  "Thanks."

"I'm still a virgin too, Jyana."

Really?

"You find that hard to believe?"

"Well, yeah.  Guys usually don't stay that way after they're 16."

"Well here I am.  I'm 30."

Wow.  "That's something to be proud of."

"Yeah, obeying my Master."

Huh?  "Qui-Gon didn't follow that."

"He told me to.  He didn't want me in the same mess he was in."

"Dad told me he had changed.  That's probably why he trusted me with him."  And you.

"Qui-Gon wanted me to wait to give myself to my wife, and only to her.  I decided when many opportunities came that I rather liked the whole abstinence thing.  I saw how it distracted other guys.  That helped be form my guard and wait for my wife.  And now, you're back."

"What does that have to do with anything?"  Why me?

"I'm not sure."

Jyana, a little confused, but tired shook her head and said, "Good night, Obi-Wan."
"Good night, Jyana."

They fell asleep as the storm died off into the distance to rage in a different place altogether.

When Jyana awoke, he was gone.  How he had pulled himself out from under her and not woke her up, she didn't know.  And now, you're back, echoed in her mind.  Whatever could that mean?  He didn't even know why he had said it.  It was going to bug her for awhile.  It wasn't going to bug her alone though.