AN: The survivors are my own creation, everything else belongs to Lucasfilm...

From Scratch
Chapter 24


Jacen woke slowly, the feel of soft silk tickling his cheek, her warmth pressed against intimately against him. He opened his eyes to a darkened room, the only light a soft glo-lamp still burning in the corner. What time is it? he wondered silently, looking around.

He turned his head to the right and any thought of time fled. Tenel Ka, her face relaxed in sleep, lay beside him, her hand resting passively on his chest, her head next to his shoulder. Her russet hair was spread about her like a fiery blanket, covering her to mid-thigh over the light blanket. Her lips were curved in a slight smile and she sighed softly in her sleep.

Jacen watched her, smiling gently as he reached out to remove the lock of hair that was tickling his face. Her body was pressed close to his, skin to skin, her leg slightly bent and hooked around his. The memories of the night came flooding back and his gaze went from appreciative to something resembling awe. She'd done something to him last night, something he hadn't even dreamed of. She'd given herself completely, no hold barred, no barriers and no escape. He'd been taken apart in her arms and put back together just as surely as he'd been under Vergere's tutelage. He'd never been so humbled in his life.

She turned her head, curling unconsciously closer, and he slid his arms around her, brushing her hair back from her shoulders. Unable to help himself, Jacen bent forward and gently placed an achingly soft kiss on her lips. Her fingers flexed against his chest in reflex and she sighed into his mouth, her lips opening under his, even in sleep. He fought against the yearning to deepen the kiss, the desire to make her his once more, and simply kissed her, finding it amazingly difficult to pull himself back into control with her so close. Yet he was able. She slowly stirred, her hand creeping up to the back of his neck, her lips moving against his and he slowly pulled back.

Her eyes fluttered and finally opened, and Jacen smiled, tracing the curve of her cheek with the back of his fingers. "Good morning."

There was no uncertainty, no confusion; she knew exactly where she was and why. She blinked once, "Good morning. That is pleasant to wake up to."

He chuckled softly. "I told you I'd be giving you lessons if you didn't learn the proper way to wake me up."

A tiny smile curved her lips, more like a tilting of the corners of her mouth, but it was there. He cupped her face in his hand, pushing himself up on one arm as he looked down at her.

"How do you feel?"

She ran her fingers through the hair at nape of his neck before allowing her hand to slide free and stretched, arching her back off the mattress as she extended herself fully. "I am... sore." She marveled softly. Her brows drew together and she winced as she moved her legs. Her gaze flew back to his. "Is this normal?"

Jacen nodded. "It'll pass, I promise."

She moved to sit up but he placed a hand in the center of her chest, his fingers playing with the edge of the sheet, just over the swell of her breasts. "Relax. There's a 'fresher connected to this room. I'll draw you, us, a warm bath and you can soothe those tired muscles."

"I would like that." She agreed. Her gaze drifted down and heat stained her cheeks. "We will share this bath?"

"Do you have a problem with that, your highness?" he asked softly, his fingers sliding upwards to trace the delicate outline of her collarbone. "After last night?"

More color flooded her cheeks. "That was not me."

"I beg to differ," he told her, his head coming down to place a gentle kiss over the indent at the base of her throat, making her breath catch. "It was you. A different side of you perhaps, but I liked it. It's nice to know my fiery wife has a soft side too."

She turned her face away, biting her lip. "Jacen."

He lifted his head, looking at her with concern, "Yes, love?"

She closed her eyes. "Is it acceptable for me to bathe by myself?"

"What's wrong, Tenel Ka?" he asked gently, sitting up so he could look at her clearly. She rolled away, or made to, but he put his arm in front of her, blocking her escape. Not that she'd be able to go anywhere; after last night, he'd be amazed if she could walk. The thought filled him with guilt. He should have been more careful. "Did I hurt you?" he asked suddenly concerned. She didn't answer right away and his concern grew. "Tenel Ka?"

She rolled back, pushing herself into a sitting position but keeping the sheet wrapped tightly about her chest. "No. You did not hurt me."

"Then what is it?"

She turned her face away, her hair blocking his view as she bowed her head a little. "I... am not certain."

"Then talk to me," he slid his arm around her shoulders, pulling her close and hugging her gently. "Just because we're married doesn't change the fact that we're friends."

She brought her knees up to her chest as he spoke, wrapping her arm around them and leaning into his body. Her whole body was like one huge ache and she couldn't wait to get into that bath, but they needed to talk first. "I did not truly know what to expect last night," she admitted softly. "I do not know what I expected, but that was not it."

"Me either." He admitted.

She lifted her head. "Truly?" He nodded and she relaxed a little. "I did not know such a... physical act would bring me to tears."

So that was it. She'd lost control of her emotions last night; he knew, he'd been watching her closely. She'd cried, screamed, laughed and smiled more in one night then he'd seen her do in all the time he'd known her. He hugged her tightly. "Why did you cry?"

"I have never experienced something to beautiful," she admitted, her voice a whisper. "I have never felt so complete. Is that wrong?"

"If it is, we should both be locked away. I felt the same way, Tenel Ka. You completely blew me away last night."

She shifted, inhaling sharply and Jacen sighed. "You must be tender, wait here, I'll go draw your bath."

She missed his warmth immediately as he slipped from the bed, pausing only to loosely pull on his trousers before disappearing into the alcove she hadn't noticed before. The sounds of running water, real water, had her watching curiously. She waited, not moving, until he reappeared a couple of minutes later, the sound of the water having died away to a trickle. Jacen stepped back to the bed and bowed. "May I have the honor of carrying you to your bath, m'lady?"

"I can walk," she objected immediately, even though they both knew it was highly unlikely.

Jacen arched an eyebrow and swept her into his arms, sheet and all, her head resting against his shoulder. "Then count this as a perk." He told her grinning. She didn't object as he carried her across the bedroom and into the 'fresher. She hadn't the energy.




Tenel Ka settled back in the tub, the deep, wide basin easily wide and long enough to hold three people, but she had it to herself. Jacen knelt next to the edge, soaping a soft cloth in his hands. She sighed softly, closing her eyes as the water began to penetrate her skin, soothing her sore muscles. She wasn't sure she'd ever want to move again.

"Better?"

She nodded. "Much. This was a very good idea."

He chuckled softly, reaching under the water to feel for her leg. His hand slid across her knee and she froze as he gently lifted her knee and lower leg from the water.

"Jacen?"

"Relax, let me baby you," he told her with a smile, taking the soapy cloth and running it in a firm circle over the muscle of her calf. Her eyes widened at the tender way he handled the every day chore. She couldn't move, didn't want to, as he carefully shifted her leg so that it was resting half on the lip of the tub. He soaped her feet, careful not to tickle, before moving carefully upwards.

She stretched her leg, feeling the muscles protest slightly but in a good way with the soothing water, as she sank down. She hadn't intended to do her hair, but Jacen seem intent on bathing her and she wasn't going to object; it was easier to clean her hair with help after all. She sighed softly, his hands sliding under the water to continue their journey up her legs. She straightened slowly as he washed first one hip, then the other. "Jacen?"

He was watching her, his brown eyes intent on her face. "Can I get you something?"

She leaned forward, propping her arm on the edge of the tub in front of him, her face inches from his. "Why are you doing this?"

"I need a reason?"

She nodded, searching his face, "I am not objecting, I am enjoying the feel of your hands on my body, but why?"

"Why are you enjoying it?" She arched an eyebrow and he grinned. "Can't blame a guy for trying." He sighed. "I feel guilty," he admitted.

"Guilty?" she pulled back a bit. "For what reason?"

"How many times did we..." he arched an eyebrow at her.

She blinked and tilted her head. "Last night?"

He chuckled, "Well obviously never before, so yes last night. Do you remember?"

She shook her head. "I did not count after four."

He hung his head.

"This is why?"

He nodded. "I knew if I made love to you more than once, you'd have trouble walking today," he admitted. "But," he lifted his head, meeting her eyes, his hands sliding across her skin under the water in a gentle motion, "I couldn't help myself. I have that problem around you, it seems."

"I did not object," she reminded him. "I could have told you no."

He chuckled, leaning forward to kiss her quickly. "You didn't know what the consequences might be," he told her softly. He paused and swallowed hard. "Speaking of consequences, you might already be carrying my child."

She blinked, jerking back, her eyes widening.

"You hadn't thought about that?"

She shook her head.

Jacen sighed, hanging his head again. "Neither did I until this morning," he admitted.

She reached out tentatively, "Jacen?" He didn't lift his head until she slipped her hand under his chin. "Look at me."

He seemed reluctant to do so, but did as she asked. His gaze held remorse and regret, enough to make her heart clench. "Do not regret what happened between us," she urged him softly. "I do not. I am... shocked by the events, but it is a pleasant shock. If I am carrying your child, I do so gladly. I love you; I have always loved you. I could not have asked for a more considerate partner."

He searched her gaze, reading only sincerity and love. He swallowed hard. "I'm sorry."

"Do not be," a small smile curved her lips, "I am not. I have no reason to be. Join me."

He blinked. "Now?"

She nodded, reaching for the waistband of his trousers, "Now."

He didn't need to be told twice. He quickly shucked his pants and slid into the tub with her, marveling as she slid between his legs, resting her head against his chest, her back to his front. He grabbed the cloth he'd left by the edge and soaped it again, kissing her behind the ear. "I love you."

She settled comfortably against him, "I know."

They spent the next hour in the warm water, soaping each other, teasing and playing like children by splashing one another. And through it all, Tenel Ka didn't regret the loss of her control. As Jacen helped her from the tub and wrapped her in a large, fluffy towel, she couldn't help but smile. Her best friend, her husband, was incredible.