[b]Chapter 18[/b]
"Dinner is served!" Brady exclaimed as he walked out of the kitchen, a steaming plate of food in each hand. Quickly he made his way into the dining room where Chloe sat, and placed one of the plates in front of her, then set one in front of his own chair and settled down.
"Who knew you could be so domestic?" Chloe asked as she placed her napkin in her lap and picked up her fork taking a dainty bite of the food Brady had prepared and placed it into her mouth, chewing the food slowly to savor the flavor.
"Well one of us has to, and since you don't even know what a pot is, I guess it's me then." He said between bites.
"Well I have the looks in this relationship." She paused as he coughed loudly, then took a large gulp of water to clear his throat. Shaking her head Chloe continued, " so I guess you have to contribute something."
"Glad that I can be of service." He said taking another sip of water, trying to ignore her innocent comment from before.
"And speaking of service, do you find it funny that ours has yet to be employed? We have not heard from my sister, Captin Typho, nor the council in three days, does that seem abnormal?"
"You worry to much Chloe. You should take this time to relax, when is the next time you'll be able to have a vacation?"
"Being that this is my first break ever, I couldn't say. Although I do wish the company was better, since only you would force a poor girl to train on her vacation." She said glaring at him.
"You need it." Brady said scrapping his plate clean.
"Really? Well you weren't saying that when I had my lightsaber to your throat." Her glare quickly changed to a confident smirk. "All three times."
"Okay how about I do the dishes." Brady jumped up quickly, removing both of their plates before she could protest. "You don't have to thank me." His voice called as he quickly ran past her into the kitchen, the door swinging behind him.
"Men. Can never admit when they're wrong." Sighing she pushed herself away from the table, throwing her napkin upon it, and headed into the kitchen. Slowly, she crept up behind Brady who was busy at the sink. Leaning up she placed her mouth next to his ear and whispered. "Need some help?"
As soon as her breath and husky voice hit his neck he dropped the soppy dish held in his hand, shattering it on the floor. "Damn it!" He yelled as he watched Chloe jump back, pieces of the plate surrounding her feet.
"Okay mental note, never sneak up on Brady." She joked, trying to crack a smile out of him, but his face was still masked in anger. "It's okay Brady, we'll just charge it to your bill."
"I don't know what's wrong with me." He said raking a hand through his hair. [i]Yes you do. You're falling for her. Hard. Just the sight of her, the smell has you acting like a clumsy adolescent. And there's not a damn thing you can do about it, and all you want to do is take her in your arms and kiss her until she's the one in pieces.[/i]
"See? All better!" She exclaimed breaking him from his thoughts as he watched the pieces of glass float through the air and land in the waste receptacle.
"You shouldn't be using the Force like that." He said watching her, amazed. "What would Master Yoda say?"
"What Master Yoda doesn't know won't hurt him." She said slyly, watching the last piece of the plate land into the basket.
"You're amazing." He said looking at her in shock.
"Thank you, I try." Chloe said lifting her robe to mock curtsy.
"No I mean it. On one hand you're this all-powerful Jedi, too far advanced for her age and place. And all you want to be is a Master, take the trials and become a knight. But you don't care what the Council thinks or says. You respect the members and the beliefs of the order, yet your life is exactly the opposite of what a Jedi's is. You know your friends, your family. You love with all of your heart. You are this walking contradiction that I cannot grasp Chloe. You show me the scared child inside and then the next minute you have a blade to my throat. I know that all you have ever dreamed of was becoming a Jedi, yet you see training as a chore. Sometimes I wonder if this is what you really want."
"I thought that we have been over this enough Brady." She said as her face flushed with anger.
"Don't be angry. I am not insulting you. I am speaking from inside. Like you have asked me to do many times. I think that you have too much heart, to much soul to be a Jedi. You would never be satisfied."
"Well you should know since you just hopped into uncaring bastard mode. So, is that how I should act then? Like you?" She spat out venomously.
"No, don't you see what I am trying to tell you. You are too good for this life Chloe. There is too much passion inside you to be a Jedi. I know because I feel it. Being around you has filled me with things I have never known." He paused and grabbed her by the shoulders turning her to face him. "I don't even know how to be a Jedi anymore because of all the emotions you have filled me with. I don't even know how you can pretend not to care. To go through the motions of being a Jedi, and hold your fire in. You [b]are[/b] amazing. But I need you to tell me how to do it, because I can't even function Chloe. I can't even breathe. I lay awake at night questioning my very existence while you lay asleep one room over. I wonder if you even know."
"Know what Brady?" She asked looking into his blazing blue eyes.
"That I can't do it anymore. That I cannot be a Jedi. Not if I am around you. So, please, tell me how you do it. How you hide all that you are for some ideal. Because my mind is filled with you and I cannot hold it in. How can you contain your passion while I cannot? You are my passion."
"Master, you should not talk like this." Chloe said formally, feeling awkward.
"I can't stop it. I want to break my vows if it will give me a moment of peace. Because I can't take this anymore. I can't pretend that you are just my Padawan. You had me since the moment you walked into Council Chambers. So, please you have to help me."
"I can't." She whispered ducking her head unable to face his eyes any longer. "I am not what you are saying Master Black. I am not who you think I am, do not hold me up as such. You're probably just confused, being locked up in this villa. I'm not myself either."
"But you are." He said lifting her face back up. "You're not phony. You act as you please, you do what needs to be done. You are caring, and sincere, and honest."
"I am not honest. I may contradict myself. But I do not hold my vows as I should." She paused thinking of her own broken vows, hers and Obi-Wan's. Why was Brady affecting so much. Ben was the only one who had ever done so. Perhaps it was his absence, but she would not allow Master Black's confession touch her as Ben's had. [i]He's not Ben. You don't feel the same. But why do you need to convince yourself then? You just need to continue to dissuade him, he's not himself. And neither are you.[/i] "You do not know me Master Black. You do not know what I have done in my past. I have friends. I love. And you know well that I should not, but with Master Kenobi and Padawan Skywalker I am in too deep. Do not throw away your future on a whim, on something you think you see that is not there."
"But it is there and that is the problem. I am not deluded Chloe. I see what is right in front of me. And that is why it is killing me. I cannot pretend any longer. Consequences be damned."
"Consequences?" She questioned looking at him, and was taken back as he wrapped his arms around her, drawing her near, his face slowly descending down to hers as he tentatively pressed his lips against her own, his warm lips enveloping her soft ones. Slowly he reached a hand up to he hair, pulling the pins free as the dark curls cascaded down her back as he delved a hand into it and up to the back of her head, pressing her mouth to his even deeper. He felt her sigh against his mouth and then lean up and into his embrace, parting her mouth slowly allowing further entrance. Gently he pressed his tongue into the soft warmth of her mouth, pumping his tongue slowly against her own, exploring every crevice of her softness. He began to move faster as she pressed herself against him harder, moving her tongue in perfect harmony, allowing him to claim her further. As the kiss hardened, moving faster, Brady felt her body move against him in the same manner. As he continued the assault on her mouth, he was unable to control his own body, feeling himself grow and ache to be in her core. And just as soon as he felt himself press against her, she did as well and pushed him away, her hand to her mouth as she looked at him appalled, at both him and herself. He watched as tears began to fill her eyes, as her bosom swelled and her swollen lips parted as she tried to gain her breath. Flushed, he watched her look at him as he tried to calm himself back down, certain that that was what had scared her away. Not the fact that it had brought her back to reality and her senses. Suddenly a pounding was at the front door of the villa, allowing the perfect opportunity for Chloe to run, and she did just that, fleeing the kitchen and straight for the door. Without bothering to look to see who it was, she flung it open and stared at the other person behind it in shock.
"Thank goodness you are all right." He said stepping through the doorway and enveloping her in his arm, lifting her and spinning her about.
"Ben." She whispered as he placed her back onto her feet, her face now flushed with shame as she looked into the eyes of the man she had always claimed to love. "What are you doing here?"
"Coruscant was attacked. They attacked the Council and the Senate and they took Master Yoda and your sister. Anakin left on his own to find them. Master Windu instructed me to come and see about you and Master Black. Make sure they have not attacked here, and then to employ your efforts in rescuing Master Yoda and Senator Amidala."
"Oh my god." Chloe said in shock bringing her hand to her mouth.
"Thank goodness that you are alright though. I don't know what I would do if I lost you." Obi-Wan said wrapping her in his arms, placing feather light kisses all across her face, finally stopping at her lips as he leaned down, placing his own lips to hers but finding them tight and unresponsive. But before he could question her, a voice cleared from across the room. Lifting his eyes Obi-Wan saw a red and fuming Brady across the way. Silently cursing himself for being so affectionate with Chloe out in the open, certain that was why Brady was staring at them with such fury, Obi-Wan chose to ignore it and not comment until time allowed. That had more important things to focus on. "Pack your bags Master Black. We have to leave. While you've been here the whole galaxy has turned upside down. The Separatists made their move on Coruscant and we weren't prepared. They took both Senator Amidala and Master Yoda, and sent half the Jedi into traction. So, it's up to us three to make things right. We're the galaxy's only hope."
"Dinner is served!" Brady exclaimed as he walked out of the kitchen, a steaming plate of food in each hand. Quickly he made his way into the dining room where Chloe sat, and placed one of the plates in front of her, then set one in front of his own chair and settled down.
"Who knew you could be so domestic?" Chloe asked as she placed her napkin in her lap and picked up her fork taking a dainty bite of the food Brady had prepared and placed it into her mouth, chewing the food slowly to savor the flavor.
"Well one of us has to, and since you don't even know what a pot is, I guess it's me then." He said between bites.
"Well I have the looks in this relationship." She paused as he coughed loudly, then took a large gulp of water to clear his throat. Shaking her head Chloe continued, " so I guess you have to contribute something."
"Glad that I can be of service." He said taking another sip of water, trying to ignore her innocent comment from before.
"And speaking of service, do you find it funny that ours has yet to be employed? We have not heard from my sister, Captin Typho, nor the council in three days, does that seem abnormal?"
"You worry to much Chloe. You should take this time to relax, when is the next time you'll be able to have a vacation?"
"Being that this is my first break ever, I couldn't say. Although I do wish the company was better, since only you would force a poor girl to train on her vacation." She said glaring at him.
"You need it." Brady said scrapping his plate clean.
"Really? Well you weren't saying that when I had my lightsaber to your throat." Her glare quickly changed to a confident smirk. "All three times."
"Okay how about I do the dishes." Brady jumped up quickly, removing both of their plates before she could protest. "You don't have to thank me." His voice called as he quickly ran past her into the kitchen, the door swinging behind him.
"Men. Can never admit when they're wrong." Sighing she pushed herself away from the table, throwing her napkin upon it, and headed into the kitchen. Slowly, she crept up behind Brady who was busy at the sink. Leaning up she placed her mouth next to his ear and whispered. "Need some help?"
As soon as her breath and husky voice hit his neck he dropped the soppy dish held in his hand, shattering it on the floor. "Damn it!" He yelled as he watched Chloe jump back, pieces of the plate surrounding her feet.
"Okay mental note, never sneak up on Brady." She joked, trying to crack a smile out of him, but his face was still masked in anger. "It's okay Brady, we'll just charge it to your bill."
"I don't know what's wrong with me." He said raking a hand through his hair. [i]Yes you do. You're falling for her. Hard. Just the sight of her, the smell has you acting like a clumsy adolescent. And there's not a damn thing you can do about it, and all you want to do is take her in your arms and kiss her until she's the one in pieces.[/i]
"See? All better!" She exclaimed breaking him from his thoughts as he watched the pieces of glass float through the air and land in the waste receptacle.
"You shouldn't be using the Force like that." He said watching her, amazed. "What would Master Yoda say?"
"What Master Yoda doesn't know won't hurt him." She said slyly, watching the last piece of the plate land into the basket.
"You're amazing." He said looking at her in shock.
"Thank you, I try." Chloe said lifting her robe to mock curtsy.
"No I mean it. On one hand you're this all-powerful Jedi, too far advanced for her age and place. And all you want to be is a Master, take the trials and become a knight. But you don't care what the Council thinks or says. You respect the members and the beliefs of the order, yet your life is exactly the opposite of what a Jedi's is. You know your friends, your family. You love with all of your heart. You are this walking contradiction that I cannot grasp Chloe. You show me the scared child inside and then the next minute you have a blade to my throat. I know that all you have ever dreamed of was becoming a Jedi, yet you see training as a chore. Sometimes I wonder if this is what you really want."
"I thought that we have been over this enough Brady." She said as her face flushed with anger.
"Don't be angry. I am not insulting you. I am speaking from inside. Like you have asked me to do many times. I think that you have too much heart, to much soul to be a Jedi. You would never be satisfied."
"Well you should know since you just hopped into uncaring bastard mode. So, is that how I should act then? Like you?" She spat out venomously.
"No, don't you see what I am trying to tell you. You are too good for this life Chloe. There is too much passion inside you to be a Jedi. I know because I feel it. Being around you has filled me with things I have never known." He paused and grabbed her by the shoulders turning her to face him. "I don't even know how to be a Jedi anymore because of all the emotions you have filled me with. I don't even know how you can pretend not to care. To go through the motions of being a Jedi, and hold your fire in. You [b]are[/b] amazing. But I need you to tell me how to do it, because I can't even function Chloe. I can't even breathe. I lay awake at night questioning my very existence while you lay asleep one room over. I wonder if you even know."
"Know what Brady?" She asked looking into his blazing blue eyes.
"That I can't do it anymore. That I cannot be a Jedi. Not if I am around you. So, please, tell me how you do it. How you hide all that you are for some ideal. Because my mind is filled with you and I cannot hold it in. How can you contain your passion while I cannot? You are my passion."
"Master, you should not talk like this." Chloe said formally, feeling awkward.
"I can't stop it. I want to break my vows if it will give me a moment of peace. Because I can't take this anymore. I can't pretend that you are just my Padawan. You had me since the moment you walked into Council Chambers. So, please you have to help me."
"I can't." She whispered ducking her head unable to face his eyes any longer. "I am not what you are saying Master Black. I am not who you think I am, do not hold me up as such. You're probably just confused, being locked up in this villa. I'm not myself either."
"But you are." He said lifting her face back up. "You're not phony. You act as you please, you do what needs to be done. You are caring, and sincere, and honest."
"I am not honest. I may contradict myself. But I do not hold my vows as I should." She paused thinking of her own broken vows, hers and Obi-Wan's. Why was Brady affecting so much. Ben was the only one who had ever done so. Perhaps it was his absence, but she would not allow Master Black's confession touch her as Ben's had. [i]He's not Ben. You don't feel the same. But why do you need to convince yourself then? You just need to continue to dissuade him, he's not himself. And neither are you.[/i] "You do not know me Master Black. You do not know what I have done in my past. I have friends. I love. And you know well that I should not, but with Master Kenobi and Padawan Skywalker I am in too deep. Do not throw away your future on a whim, on something you think you see that is not there."
"But it is there and that is the problem. I am not deluded Chloe. I see what is right in front of me. And that is why it is killing me. I cannot pretend any longer. Consequences be damned."
"Consequences?" She questioned looking at him, and was taken back as he wrapped his arms around her, drawing her near, his face slowly descending down to hers as he tentatively pressed his lips against her own, his warm lips enveloping her soft ones. Slowly he reached a hand up to he hair, pulling the pins free as the dark curls cascaded down her back as he delved a hand into it and up to the back of her head, pressing her mouth to his even deeper. He felt her sigh against his mouth and then lean up and into his embrace, parting her mouth slowly allowing further entrance. Gently he pressed his tongue into the soft warmth of her mouth, pumping his tongue slowly against her own, exploring every crevice of her softness. He began to move faster as she pressed herself against him harder, moving her tongue in perfect harmony, allowing him to claim her further. As the kiss hardened, moving faster, Brady felt her body move against him in the same manner. As he continued the assault on her mouth, he was unable to control his own body, feeling himself grow and ache to be in her core. And just as soon as he felt himself press against her, she did as well and pushed him away, her hand to her mouth as she looked at him appalled, at both him and herself. He watched as tears began to fill her eyes, as her bosom swelled and her swollen lips parted as she tried to gain her breath. Flushed, he watched her look at him as he tried to calm himself back down, certain that that was what had scared her away. Not the fact that it had brought her back to reality and her senses. Suddenly a pounding was at the front door of the villa, allowing the perfect opportunity for Chloe to run, and she did just that, fleeing the kitchen and straight for the door. Without bothering to look to see who it was, she flung it open and stared at the other person behind it in shock.
"Thank goodness you are all right." He said stepping through the doorway and enveloping her in his arm, lifting her and spinning her about.
"Ben." She whispered as he placed her back onto her feet, her face now flushed with shame as she looked into the eyes of the man she had always claimed to love. "What are you doing here?"
"Coruscant was attacked. They attacked the Council and the Senate and they took Master Yoda and your sister. Anakin left on his own to find them. Master Windu instructed me to come and see about you and Master Black. Make sure they have not attacked here, and then to employ your efforts in rescuing Master Yoda and Senator Amidala."
"Oh my god." Chloe said in shock bringing her hand to her mouth.
"Thank goodness that you are alright though. I don't know what I would do if I lost you." Obi-Wan said wrapping her in his arms, placing feather light kisses all across her face, finally stopping at her lips as he leaned down, placing his own lips to hers but finding them tight and unresponsive. But before he could question her, a voice cleared from across the room. Lifting his eyes Obi-Wan saw a red and fuming Brady across the way. Silently cursing himself for being so affectionate with Chloe out in the open, certain that was why Brady was staring at them with such fury, Obi-Wan chose to ignore it and not comment until time allowed. That had more important things to focus on. "Pack your bags Master Black. We have to leave. While you've been here the whole galaxy has turned upside down. The Separatists made their move on Coruscant and we weren't prepared. They took both Senator Amidala and Master Yoda, and sent half the Jedi into traction. So, it's up to us three to make things right. We're the galaxy's only hope."