Author's Notes: Oh my God! It's, it's… the END!!!! After two years or dithering over this fic, it has finally finished. It took me long enough. Thanks everyone for your support – I know this hasn't been the most perfect or well-written fic in the world, but it's been fun, and I hope you've enjoyed it. Maybe some time in future I will write another Dooku-Qui escapade, but this is it for now. MTFBWY! And roll on "Revenge of the Sith"!

Epilogue

30 years later…

'In Memory of Allyaah Jiao - One with the Force'

Stood alone in the Jedi 'Gardens of Remembrance', staring at the plaque in memory of his former comrade, was Master Dooku. He still appeared as noble and distinguished as ever, but his once black hair was now a faded grey, and though he had grown it back over the years, it was once again cut short, whilst his skin was lined with the wrinkles that age always brought. The tree that he had planted in Allyaah's honour long ago was now tall, lush and green. Her ashes had been laid about it.

He sighed deeply and looked up to the top of the blossoming tree - his time here was finished.

He heard gentle footsteps behind him and turned to face Madame Jocasta Nu. She gave him a friendly bow in greeting before stepping by his side and following his line of sight; the Jedi were meant to let go people when they died, but they still respected their dead, just as they respected those who had left them, the Lost Nineteen.

It would soon be Twenty.

"Madame Nu," Dooku nodded.

She nodded slightly, giving him a slight smile, though lost it to her emotions and said tearfully; "Serenn, is it true?"

He looked to her, his eyebrows rising, "Is what true?" he asked,

She shook her head faintly at his seeming attempt to cover the obvious; "I've heard that you've decided to leave, to renounce the Order?"

Serenn's eyes careened to the right, swiftly followed by the turn of his head; he stared into space for some time before he admitted, "Yes. It's true."

Jocasta shook her head, knowing what a loss to the Order this would be, especially now, at this time; "But Serenn…"

"But nothing!" he snapped, "I refuse to be constrained by this ineffective corps any longer. The reign of the Jedi is over, and corruption in the Senate is rife. My former Padawan, my dearest child, is dead now, too. What is there left for me here now? Nothing."

"You can't leave," she insisted further, stepping toward him and clutching his arms, "We need you."

Serenn softened a little at her kind gestures and her well-founded concern, and embraced her gently; "I am wasted here," he whispered, before he pried her away from him a little and looked firmly into her eyes, running a hand down her aging features. They were both growing old now.

Leaning forward, he kissed the top of her head gently; "Please understand," he said, "I'm no longer a Jedi at heart. I cannot achieve what I wish to whilst I am bound to this prison. I was born of a wealthy family, Jo' - my parents are long dead, of course, but their fortune will still fall to me once I go and reclaim it. I will inherit the title my father bore, 'Count Dooku', and from there I will consider how to satisfactorily lead the final years of my life."

He threw her one of his notoriously charming smiles and she returned it weakly.

"I'll miss you," she admitted, "So few Jedi are there left of your calibre."

He laughed, "You flatter me, madam."

There was a pause during which the sombre aura reinstated itself over the pair.

"Many things have been taken from me because of the restraint of the Jedi Order," Dooku went on in a low tone, looking back to Allyaah's tree.

Nu again followed his eyes and sighed discreetly, "You still miss her?" she asked.

Serenn glanced at her and nodded reluctantly - he wasn't one to show his innermost feelings to just anyone; "Yes," he replied. He paced away from Jocasta and dropped to his knees before the tree. Nu watched him uncertainly.

"I feel responsible for her death," he explained, "I always have. I blamed Master Syfo-Dias then, in some way, but no, it was my fault. The burden will be mine to bear until the end."

Jocasta approached him from behind and placed a hand on his shoulder; "Tragedies happen, Serenn. It's fate."

"I just wasn't strong enough," he sighed, "I know I could have saved her, but…"

Nu was shaking her head, "No, you couldn't," she lightly contended.

Serenn snorted in defiance, "Yes I could," he relayed.

Another silence ensued.

"I loved her, Jo'," he stated openly.

Jocasta listened patiently and gave his shoulder a rub; "I know you did," she whispered.

Serenn continued to stare, recalling memories of his friend and the mission that had killed her; "What would have happened it she'd lived?" he mumbled, "What if Syfo-Dias had got whiff of what my Padawan had picked up on so easily?"

Jocasta didn't answer. She just stared at the plaque beneath the tree.

He shot to his feet, "Syfo-Dias would have had me expelled," he determined. He placed his hands on his hips and looked up to the skylight above. He swallowed, shaking his head and admitted, "I've always wanted a family, you know." He saw no point in keeping any secrets from Nu, especially since he may never see her again, "A family of my own. 'The Jedi are your family' we were always told, but were they? A family that you couldn't grow close to, because attachment was forbidden?"

Jocasta found herself again shaking her head, "You were living a dream if you wanted that."

He gave her a bitter glance; "I couldn't help if I yearned for mere normality!" he hissed, and the tear that rolled down his face was obvious. It looked so out of place.

"Look what life has done to me!" he growled, "Tortured me constantly! Well, no more. I leave it all behind and seek for something better. I seek a future for this galaxy before it destroys itself."

Jocasta embraced him compassionately, "Please take care, Serenn," she said.

He stroked her hair back and gave her a parting kiss on the forehead, "And you, my dear," he said.

He gave one last glance to Allyaah's tree and, taking his lightsabre from his belt, placed it by the roots; "Forgive me, Allyaah," he whispered, and glancing up to the skies, he added, "Forgive me, Qui-Gon," before he brushed passed Jocasta and left.

Jocasta found herself staring at the lightsabre hilt for some time, before she shook her head and paced solemnly out of the gardens.

The End

Final Note: I made up the Gardens of Remembrance thing. I just reckon it fits. Later peeps!