The Return

Kim stood before the Jedi Council, feeling the heavy weight of their gazes. She was embarrassed, but kept eye contact even while blushing.

"Well, this certainly is a problem." Mace Windu frowned. "Trouble always follows a love-struck Jedi."

Kim didn't answer. Being from a place where this was all a story, she knew what was going to happen to Anakin. Many times, having that knowledge and being unable to use it to prevent the bad things from happening had reduced her almost to tears. Almost, but not quite. She waited to cry until no one could hear her.

Obi-Wan's quiet voice came from by her side. "That is true, but she is not, technically, a regular Jedi. She also says that she felt a connection to this boy through the Force. I have heard of such things occurring. If she says that's what happened, then that's what happened." Kim glanced up at him. His eyes were kind. "I trust her completely."

Kim blushed even harder. Coming from Obi-Wan, that was an extremely high compliment. She looked over at Anakin. He smiled sympathetically at her. Being in love with someone himself, he knew what it felt like.

Yoda rubbed his chin, then motioned for her to come over to him. She did so, and knelt so that she could meet him eye-to-eye. "Say you this boy is Force-sensitive, yes?"

"Yes, Master Yoda."

Yoda looked carefully at her, his eyes sweeping over her face. Then, a kind look, not unlike Obi-Wan's, filled them. "Not long ago I met you, and already trust you, I do." Seeing as how Yoda was approaching nine hundred standard years old, the six years he had known Kim was a trifle. "You are not like an ordinary Jedi. Feel true hate or fear, you cannot. Apply to you, different rules do. If you believe that you will not lose track of your duties, and an asset the boy will be, come here the boy may."

Kim was dumbstruck. Jim…could stay? Could come live here?

"Will he be trained, sir?" Kim asked.

"Know that, I do not. See we will, when arrive he does."

Kim bowed her head slightly, and then stood up. "Thank you, Master Yoda."

Yoda in turn inclined his head to her. Mace sighed. "Well, if Master Yoda trusts you, I think that is pretty clear. And he is right about the different rules." Was he hiding a smile? "We've never had someone of your…abilities before."

Kim, Obi-Wan, and Anakin bowed, and then departed. Outside the council chamber, Anakin turned to face her. "Is it really possible for you to love someone and still do your duties? What if he gets into trouble and you're on an assignment?"

"I'll finish my assignment, and then go help him. He'll understand. I can't let my feelings stop me from doing the right thing."

Obi-Wan led the way to the lab that resided in the Academy. "Let's go fetch him, shall we?"

It had been about six months since Jim had returned with Doctor Doppler and Amelia. Silver had gone on his way quietly, with slightly lighter pockets and Jim's forgiveness.

The Benbow Inn had been restored to its former glory…and then some. A glorious garden now adorned the front lawn. There were more rooms in more fashionable designs. The few coins Silver had given Jim more than paid for everything they needed.

Jim was going to make a decision now. Having finished the school year with flying colors (and quite a few apologies), he now had to decide which Academy to go to. Amelia had personally recommended him to the top Navy Academy.

It was the opening night of the new Benbow Inn. Mrs. Hawkins was throwing a party for all the friends and neighbors. B.E.N. served cake to the guests, and one neighbor played songs on a peculiar-looking instrument.

Jim stood off to the side in a new uniform and a new haircut. When he started to show his intelligence in school, many girls had decided that smarts and cuteness were two major factors. He'd had more "girlfriend offers" than perps on the ship. He had also done something totally unexpected: turned them all down.

He had not forgotten Kim. Nor did he intend to do so. Even with his undeveloped Force abilities, he could tell that they'd had a connection somehow. He was currently working on a portal of his own for that exact reason. Jim was willing to go live in her world. He had told his mother all about her, and she recognized the look in his eyes as he talked about Kim. It was the same one Doppler got when he looked at Amelia. Pure, simple love.

Now, the music played, and girls snuck glances at him, but he ignored it all, looking out the window, lost in his thoughts for the moment.

A knock on the door attracted Mrs. Hawkins's attention. She walked over and opened the door. Two figures in robes stood there. One was a very pretty young teenager, and the other was a handsome, older man with a ginger-colored beard and kind eyes.

"May I help you?" Mrs. Hawkins asked politely.

The man nodded. "Yes. We are here to speak to you about your son, Jim."

"Please, come inside." Mrs. Hawkins invited them in.

"Thank you, ma'am." The girl's voice was warm and friendly.

The two walked in. The man took off his hood first, and then the girl.

Jim looked at his mother leading the two strangers in. The man took off his hood. He had golden-brown hair and kind blue eyes. Then his companion took off her hood, and looked right at him.

He felt a wave of joy and disbelief sweep through him as he looked into the sparkling green eyes he thought he'd never see again. Then all thought stopped, and pure emotions took over.

Jim literally ran across the room to sweep Kim up in his arms and twirl her around. Kim laughed with delight and hugged him. Jim gently set her down and just held her for a moment, Kim returning his embrace.

When he released her slightly, her eyes were bright with unshed tears. "I…I can't believe you're here…" Jim could barely speak. He was glad, however, that she was.

Kim's face took on a serious expression. "Jim, is there somewhere we can go to talk? Something quite serious has come up."

"Sure. But first, let me introduce you to my mother." He led Kim over to the table where Mrs. Hawkins and Obi-Wan sat, deep in some discussion. "Mom?" Mrs. Hawkins looked first at him, and then her gaze fell to the girl next to him. "This is Kim. The one I told you about."

The edges of her eyes crinkled in a silent smile. Smiling a real one, she stood up and extended her hand. "It's nice to meet the girl my son speaks so highly of."

Kim returned her handshake, blushing slightly. "It's a pleasure to meet you, ma'am."

"Mom, Kim and I are going outside to talk. Okay?"

Mrs. Hawkins looked from Obi-Wan to Kim, and saw that Jim was going to be told the same thing she was. "Okay. Be careful!" she called after them.

As Jim and Kim walked out, a group of girls in the corner sent Kim jealous glances.

Kim and Jim climbed up onto the roof, Jim being careful to sit where his suit wouldn't get too dirty; his mother was a stickler for such things.

When they were both seated, Kim looked up at the sky. "I never thought I'd see these stars again."

Jim couldn't help but notice how her eyes caught the starlight and held them. Kim smiled and turned to Jim. "I never thought I'd see you again, either." Her face fell slightly. "Um, about what happened on the boat…I'm sorry if I embarrassed you."

"Kim…" He gently touched her cheek. "I told you I loved you. And I still do."

"You really mean that?" Her eyes were hopeful.

"Absolutely."

Kim's eyes were relieved. "Jim, the reason I came back here was because this may work out after all. I talked to the Jedi Council with Master Obi-Wan—that's the man in there—and, well, if you want to come live in my world, you can."

Jim's face was expressionless.

Kim continued doggedly on. "Your mother, Ben, Morph, they could all come, too. And, there is a chance you could become a Jedi. Not a Jedi Power like me, you have to be born one of those, but a regular Jedi Knight."

"Well?" She looked at him, and saw joy in his face. That gave her the strength to carry on further. "And there's one more thing. One more thing I wasn't sure I could say. For a Jedi, these words are practically forbidden. Now, I know that I can."

"Jim, I love you."

Jim sat quietly for a moment, etching this minute into his heart forever.

"You have no idea how long I've wanted to hear you say that." Then, leaning slowly over, he placed his lips on her own. Jim hesitated for one more moment, and then gently put his hand behind her head, deepening the kiss.

Kim, for the first time, had no thoughts. Only feelings. And she mentally saw feelings for the first time as well. She and Jim were two lights of pure, simple, radiating-the-Force love. The many lights below them were fun, slight jealously (from Jim's earlier applicants), and understanding from Mrs. Hawkins and Obi-Wan.

And, for the first time since leaving Earth, she felt truly home. For home is, of course, not where you are, but who you're with. Obi-Wan and Anakin were her friends, brothers, and, at times, father figures. She had an entire family at the Jedi Academy. But Jim…he was something entirely new.

Jim finally broke the kiss, blushing furiously. Kim blushed too. Jim took her hand. "As to your question, I was actually planning to try and reach your universe on my own."

"I'm glad you're okay with the idea. But, Jim…" Her eyes went serious again. "Being a Jedi is dangerous work. And there is no room for mistakes. If I'm in trouble, you have to go on with whatever your assignment may be. It's okay to be in love, but you have to remember your duties as well. I made that agreement, and that is why you are allowed to come."

Jim looked at her for a moment. If she was in trouble, would he really leave her and continue with whatever mission he had? He too had a sense of duty. But would duty override love? In this case, it had to. If he faltered in order to save his love, others would probably lose loves of their own.

"Being a Jedi, Jim, means doing the right thing and not the selfish thing." Kim had to get him to understand this. Otherwise, it really wouldn't work.

"You have my word that I will not shirk my duties, whatever they may be." Jim's voice was serious, and his eyes confirmed his words.

"One last thing." Kim's voice was slightly teasing. "I'm a Jedi Power. I'm not going to have a man stand in front of me whenever a danger presents itself. We work as a team. You help me at certain times, and I may have to help you at certain times, but no one has a definite role as protector. Agreed?"

Jim responded with a quick kiss. Once they had their blushes under control, they climbed down again. Obi-Wan and Mrs. Hawkins were waiting for them outside. Obi-Wan smiled with a knowing look, and Kim barely suppressed a blush. There were downsides to having a Jedi mentor. But, she thought with a grin, the good definitely beats the bad.

"Mom?" Jim knew that if his mom stayed, he would too. At least for a little while.

Mrs. Hawkins smiled, seeing the looks on their faces. "I've handed control of the Inn to Doppler, Amelia, and Ben for the summer. I'll come back when business picks up again, but you," she smiled at Jim, "will stay at the Jedi Academy."

Obi-Wan cleared his throat. "If you could come with us, we're going to introduce you to the Council, and then you can come back and pack."

Jim nodded, and gave his mother a quick hug. "I'll be back to help you pack. I promise."

She nodded.

The glowing white portal opened up one more time. Obi-Wan stepped into it first.

Jim looked at Kim and smiled, never more sure of a decision in his life. Kim smiled back at him and took his hand. Then, together, they entered a world of adventure.