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Chapter 9: Tahiri and Anakin
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Anakin had decided to stay in camp, afraid of what his siblings might do if he and Tahiri stumbled onto them. He had lit a small fire that he and Tahiri now sat at. Tahiri sat huddled next to him with her head on his shoulder content to watch the flames dance. Anakin had his arm around her shoulders hugging her to him.
Tahiri sighed in contentment. She was calm and relaxed for the first time since the Vong had left. She was still in aw at the fact that Anakin was alive. She could still remember the searing pain of feeling him die and the realization that half of her soul was now gone for what she had thought would be forever.
Anakin placed a light kiss on the side of Tahiri's head. Tahiri smiled and looked up at Anakin. Anakin lowered his head and caught her lips in a tender kiss. Pulling back after a moment Anakin took Tahiri's hand and held it.
"I love you Tahiri, and I always will," Anakin said.
"I love you as well, Heroboy," Tahiri said. Anakin smiled it had been along time since Tahiri had called him her heroboy. Anakin quickly kissed her on the cheek.
"Mind if I ask you something then?" Anakin asked.
"Of course not," Tahiri replied ass he moved to sit on Anakin's lap. Anakin took a deep calming breath then he began.
"Tahiri, we have been friends since the instant we both saw each other here at the Academy all those years ago. Then when the Vong attacked I thought that I might lose you the way I had lost Chewbacca. I was so scared of losing you that I finally realized how much I cared about you. I'll always remember the day we kissed in the locker room. That was easily the best day of my life. Then the Vong took you and tried to turn you. I felt them give you every cut. I tasted your blood, your tears, hell Tahiri, I even felt your pain and thought it to be my own. I knew I had to get to you. Even if it meant that I would die. I was prepared for that. We got away from the Vong and connected back with the Republic. Our relationship grew and everyday I discovered that I loved you more and more. Then that mission to Myrkr to kill the voxyen queen. I didn't know it would cost me my life and cause you so much pain. I felt your pain and depression in the ultimate Force, I tried to comfort you, but in vain. Then I had Jacen bring me back so that I cold be with you and to heal your pain," He paused and looked at Tahiri. Her eyes were wide with hat he was saying. "Tahiri, I love you more than you could ever imagine. Will you…..marry me?"
Tahiri was speechless and almost feel off Anakin's lap. Anakin caught her and soon she found her voice. "Yes Anakin, I will marry you." Almost as the words left her mouth Anakin kissed her. He couldn't believe it. He was engaged to Tahiri! The single thought came to him. THE RING!!! He reached into his chest pocket and produced a ring. The stone was a Tatooine fire stone set in pure gold. Tahiri hugged Anakin as he slipped the ring on her finger.
Tears started pooling in Tahiri's eyes. Anakin noticed the tears as Tahiri tried to blink them away. "Tahiri, what's wrong? Why are you crying?"
"Oh Anakin, I'm just so happy that's all. After all the pain I've…we've been through this is the happiest thing that's happened to me since you were brought back from the dead, literally," Tahiri looked up into Anakin's face and smiled as the tears continued to roll down her cheeks leaving small indents on her cheeks.
Anakin could only smile. Tahiri was happy and that was the best that he could have hopped for. Nothing else seemed to matter as he looked into her eyes. He leaned down and kissed her tears away. "I love you Tahiri, I always have that will never change," with that he softly pressed his lips to hers. All barriers, even ones that neither had been aware of came down. Each heard what the other was thinking and each now knew what the other had been through. With a connection this intense neither could pull apart. Finally the instinctive need to breath won out and they released each other. Both just smiled at the other.
Suddenly, Tahiri shivered in Anakin's arms. Anakin looked down. "Are you cold?"
"Maybe just a little," Tahiri admitted sheepishly.
Anakin looked at the fire and noticed that it had gone down to embers. " I'll be right back, I'm just going to go get some more firewood."
"Okay just hurry back," Anakin gave Tahiri a quick kiss then went to the tent to get more wood. *It sure is quiet here* Tahiri thought to herself. She looked up through the trees and saw the stars and planets that were left of her galaxy after the Vong had destroyed everything in their path.
The next thing Tahiri knew was that there was a hand around her nose and mouth with a cloth. Tahiri tried to scream, but her cries were muffled by the cloth. *Anakin where are you?* she thought as her world went black.