Over the course of four weeks, Damien's former training was rectified, and he became a great Jedi. Master Kiypher took the both of us under his wing and committed himself to training us simultaneously. The Jedi Council thought that that might not be wise, but Master Kiypher insisted.

When we got back to Coruscant after the Sarapin incident, I returned to my room in the Temple, and I found Greigg standing in front of my door, waiting for me. Immediately, the images from my dream flashed in my mind, and I smiled. He caught sight of me and ran down the hall, throwing his arms around me.

"Oh, Ari-Ana, I heard about Sarapin! I was so worried!" He squeezed me tightly.

I patted his back awkwardly and breathed, "Thank you . . . I think."

Then he pulled back, his blue eyes shining, and smiled nervously. "I'm sorry for my lack of self-control. It's just that I sort of look to you as a close friend. Look, I know that I don't know you that well, but . . . I'd like to."

Fighting my blush, I diverted my eyes to my hands, trying to buy time. "Well, Greigg, I don't know. . . . You do owe me that Temple tour, though."

He smiled widely. "Do you have time? My Master said that I have no obligations until our assignment next week."

"I'm sure I do. Master Kiypher didn't mention needing me for anything. After the shock on Sarapin, I'm sure he won't mind me taking a week or so to collect myself."

"Great!" He held out his arm, and I took it. "M'Lady, where would you like to go?"

I giggled. "I've heard much about the Temple gardens."

"Ah, a great choice." We turned around and began down the hall.

We told each other things about ourselves as we traveled to the turbo-lift, and he told an especially funny story about a Corellian, a Sullustan, and a bantha. I had never laughed so loudly in my life. Just as he went to push the turbo-lift button, I heard someone call my name from the hallway we had just exited. Turning around, I saw Damien running toward us. Instantly self-conscious, I released Greigg's arm before Damien could see. He slowed to a stop in front of me, beaming. But then he looked up and saw Greigg standing beside me. His eyes darkened, as if in jealousy.

"Oh, pardon me. I didn't know that . . . " His voice trailed off as his eyes wandered nervously.

"No, no! It's quite all right. Greigg was just going to show me the Temple gardens."

"I was just going to ask if you wanted to have dinner, so we could talk some more, but I'll just leave -- "

"Damien, I'm sorr-- "

"No, don't be sorry. I'll just go and find Master Kiypher." He turned immediately and went back down the hallway.

I glanced back up to Greigg, and he frowned.

"Is he your . . . Are you two -- ?"

My eyes widening, I cried, "Oh, no! I just met him. That's Damien Rai. He was the other -- "

He pushed the button. "Oh yes, I heard about him." Wiping the frown from his face, he held out his arm again, and we entered the turbo-lift.

***

The Temple gardens were especially beautiful that day. We saw many Jedi, young and old, meditating in the serene atmosphere, away from all the turmoil of Coruscant. Greigg and I walked around, gazing at the beautiful trees, flowers, shrubs, and plant life from every corner of the galaxy. He picked a bright pink flower and placed it in my hair; he said that putting the flower so close to my eyes made it much more beautiful than it had been in the ground. That time I couldn't control my reddening.

We sat down next to a softly flowing waterfall, away from all the other Jedi, and continued talking. I let my hand drift in the cool water as he spoke of his homeplanet.

"I've only been there once or twice, but it is so lush and rich with life," he was saying. "Have you ever heard of springtime on Naboo?"

I shook my head.

"My Master and I were on assignment there during the springtime, and it was gorgeous beyond words -- "

"Try to put it into words," I challenged him.

He looked up at me. "Let's just say that you would fit in very well there."

I lowered my head, coloring deeply. He reached over and lifted my head, gazing deeply into my eyes. His look was so intense, and his hand so soft on my face. I could read his emotions without trouble; it seemed he was deliberately making them easy for me to comprehend. Just as he began leaning toward me, I put my hand in the water again and splashed him.

He sputtered for a moment and dropped his hand. Looking at me incredulously, he jumped up and cried, "Oh, you're going to get it now!" He put both his hands in the water and threw a large amount of water on me. I screamed and splashed him again, launching the two of us into a full-blown water war.

Once we were both soaked to the bone, we stood and laughed. Then, his eyes shining, he reached for my hands and pulled me to him; I could feel his muscles through the water-soaked tunic. Wrapping his arms around me, he leaned down and kissed me. At first I was taken by surprise, but after a few moments I put my arms around his neck and pulled him closer. He smiled against my mouth and began to deepen the kiss.

Suddenly, I felt the presence of someone else coming nearer to us, so I broke away and pulled him behind a large, fat tree. Peeking around, I saw one of the younger Jedi emerge from some shrubbery and look at the spilled water. Furrowing his eyebrows, he said to himself, "I could have sworn I heard someone over here." Then he shrugged and returned to his meditation.

Once he was out of range, we burst into laughter, laughing so hard that we fell to the ground, holding our sides. When our laughter began to subside, I saw Greigg staring at me. He crawled over to me on his hands and knees and put his arm around me. We leaned with our backs against the tree trunk and just relaxed in each other's presence.

After several minutes, he leaned his head down and whispered into my ear, "I'm sorry, M'Lady. I should have asked before I kissed you."

Smiling, I replied, "It wasn't necessary."

"Of course it was. And I won't let my manners fail again. I would very much like to kiss you again, M'Lady, with you permission."

In response, I threw his arm off of me, pushed him onto his back on the moss-covered floor, placed each of my hands on either side of him, and kissed him passionately. Just as he brought his hands to my back, I pulled away and gazed down at him, cocking an eyebrow as if to say, "How about that?"

He stared up at me bewildered, fumbling for his voice. Laughing, I jumped to my feet, pulling him with me. Then I threaded my arm in his and we left the Temple gardens.