Luke was ashamed, he seemed to be too overly interested in his padawan. He kept telling himself it was just over-protectiveness, but something argued otherwise. He leaned on the doorframe to her bedroom, and felt a little guilty. It wasn't really right for him to watch her sleep, it was invading her privacy because she did not know he was there. But he couldn't help it, he couldn't bear to wake her. He loved to watch her lay there, eyes closed as her chest rose a fell in perfect rhythm.
She rolled slightly and some of her blanket slipped off her shoulder, revealing the creamy skin of her back. Luke felt most embarrassed, standing there staring at her bare back and sleeping form like some teenage boy with a crush. He was quickly to her side and pulling the blanket up to wrap it snugly around her shoulders. He stood back and sighed. Perhaps he should wake her. No, she was exhausted, it had been her first endurance test. Luke's mind traveled back to the morning after his first endurance test...
Luke awoke with a start at the feeling of his head being tapped sharply with Yoda's cane. He choked down a groan and looked around. He was still sleeping on Yoda's floor, curled in a ball, it got quite cold in the night here. Yoda was standing over him, an amused look on his face.
"Sleeping, padawan was?" he asked in his merry little sing-song voice.
Luke sighed. "It's two am, what do you think I was doing?"
"Getting ready to wake up, you should have been, now, to my breakfast. Would very much like another 'Skywalker Delight', I would. But this time the slugs, leave out." Yoda instructed.
This time Luke did groan. "Aw, I ran for 10 miles without stopping, my legs are killing me, I'm tired."
"Legs! Piff! Tired! Piff! Dwell on these things, a Jedi does not." Yoda snapped, honoring Luke with another bump on the head from his cane.
Luke smiled, it sure was nice to not have to sleep on the floor anymore. Maybe he could get some sleep while he waited for her to wake up...just a few minutes. Luke turned around and went to his room, which was right across from Cas's. He closed the door and lay down on his cot. I'll just close my eyes for a few minutes...
Luke awoke suddenly to the sound of distinct giggling. He opened his eyes to see a very pleased looking Cas standing over him. He groaned and rolled over.
"Oh, up!" she teased, tugging at his blanket.
"Mrrrhhgafu..." Luke mumbled, pulling his blanket tighter.
"Fine, you asked for it." Cas said, and ripped off his blanket.
"FINE!" Luke yelled, suddenly very cold. He grabbed his robe and quickly wrapped it around him.
Cas smiled and folded her arms, waiting for him to stop shivering and start lecturing. "Well, what do I have to go through today?" she asked, still slightly amused.
"Well, today we're not going into the swamp, personally, I think it's too cold." Luke hated the cold. Well, heck, he's got a reason doesn't he? ;)
"Where are we going?" She asked, watching as he fitfully tightened his robe.
"Coruscant." he siad, rubbing his hand together.
"Coruscant!" she yelled in disbelief.
"Yeah, get packed." Luke said simply.
Luke got up to leave the room. He turned at the door way and looked at Cas, and did something he never did before. He kissed her. It was just a small peck on the cheek, but Cas was almost overwhelmed with the amount of warm feelings that washed over her in that fleeting moment. It seemed to last forever, but was over in a heartbeat. She suddenly felt cold, as compared to the warmth she felt while his lips were against her cheek, when he drew away. He smiled at her and was gone. Cas stared at the empty room. Why Coruscant?
"Why Coruscant!" she asked Luke from the back of his X-wing.
"I think we need a break." Luke said over his shoulder, "I wanted to get out of that swamp for a while."
Luke couldn't fool Cas, she knew him too well by now, he had another motive. He wasn't just going to Coruscant for the air or chilly fried hotdogs, there was some other reason. But, she was not going to get it out of him now, he would most likely let her know once they got there. She sighed and got as comfortable as she was going to get in the back of his X-wing. Why in Hoth-frost couldn't he have gotten a bigger ship! She settled back, and realized they were in for a long trip. She shifted in the tight compartment, and was imediatly bored. She stared at Luke's blonde head and absently probed his thoughts...
I think about you,
I wish you were here,
I don't know what to do,
When you're not near...
Hey! It was a new verse to that strange song! She had written down all the others, but she hadn't heard this yet! She probed further...
I see your face,
It won't go away, I haven't been to this place,
Where I think about you everyday...
No! No! All wrong! Let's see...
Well! I'll be! thought Cas, He's writing this song! Making it up off the top of his head! I never knew he could write... she listened some more as Luke fumbled over the lyrics in his mind, deciding against some and composing others. She noticed he took out a small pad and pencil every now and then to jot something down.
She shook her head in amazement and settled back in her seat for the long trip. . .
They landed on Coruscant not three hours from her discovery, bringing the long and silent trip to a sudden and relieving end. Luke sighed and opened the hatch, clumsily climbing out. He stood on the roof of his small craft and leaned down to help Cas out. She clambered over the top of his pilot seat and took both Luke's hands. When she was about halfway out Luke changed positions, wrapping his arms around her waist and effortlessly lifting her out . Cas looked up at him, into those beautiful eyes of his, she had never seen such eyes...
"Where to?" Luke asked her and smiled.
Embarrassed, Cas quickly gathered her composure and freed herself from the circle of his arms. "You tell ME, this is your little adventure." she teased. Luke smiled and jumped off the X-wing, turning around and holding out his arms to help her down. Cas cocked her head and grinned at him.
"Hey, I'm no petite little doll, yo don't have to help me with anything." she stated. And with that, she flipped over his head, did a few spins and twirls, and landed feet behind him.
Luke shrugged. "Just being a gentleman." he said and grinned.
Luke and Cas walked side-by-side into the city, watching as the small tapcafes and shops appeared. Luke breathed in and smiled Cas. "Wanna get a drink?" he asked her, pointing to a near tapcafe.
Cas shrugged. "Sure."
They entered the cafe, and were immediately immersed in the strong and welcoming smells of foreign foods and drinks, with the sound of jizz music in the background. Luke and Cas sat down on stools and Luke waved for the robot waiter. The annoying, chirpy creature can spinning up to them and asked her in loud voice,
"What can I get for ya' honey?"
Honey? They were programming these droids differently lately. "Uh...what do you want Cas?" Luke asked her.
"Alderaan ale, straight up." she said and leaned on the counter.
Luke gave a shaky grin. "Ah, me too."
"You got in babe." the droid chirped. She paused before speeding away and slapped him on the butt. "Nice buns." she commented and was gone.
Luke shook his head. Man, they sure were programming them differently. Cas, in the meantime, though she had coughed down he share of giggles at the droid's comment, was watching someone else in the cafe. A young man, a pretty girl who appreared to be his girlfriend, a fretful droid, and an annoyed wookiee.
"I really don't think this is safe." the droid fretted, "I mean, we could be kidnaped, or even killed! Or worse! And I think that sever was flirting with me."
"Oh shutup, tin-can." the young man snapped at the droid from behind his newspaper.
At the sound of the man's voice Luke spun around on and fell off his stool. He quickly leapt up and a broad grin broke out on his face. "HAN!" Luke shouted, rushing over to embrace the older man, newspaper and all.
"Gee, nice to see you Luke, but you crumpled this add for a laser-silencer." Han teased, ruffled Luke's hair. Luke wasted no time in hugging everyone else at the table. "LEIA! CHEWIE! Threepio!" Luke got pinched by Threepio's metal parts in the act of hugging him, but Luke didn't care.
"Oh, I am most pleased to see you as well, Master Luke!" Threepio said, "But, you are getting tangled in my cords, please disengage yourself."
Luke smiled and was swept up in a huge wookiee hug, his feet danglingthree feet above the ground. "Hi Chewie." Luke smiled and looked up at the happy wookiee. When Chew ie put him down he went back to huggging Han and Leia. "I'm so happy to see you guys!" he shouted.
Leia smiled. "Yeah, us too, but Han takes enough liberties on his own, do you have to press us together?" Liea teased Luke over his shoulder.
Luke released them and dragged Cas over to the group."Everyone, I want you to meet Cascade Mistra." He stated proudly. Han gave Cas an admiring look and slapped Luke on the back.
"You done good kid." he whispered in Luke's ear.
Luke's eyes widened. "Wait! She's NOT my---"
"Don't worry Luke, she's all your's." Han smirked and gave him another slap on the back. Luke gave up.
Cas smiled. "It's nice to meet you all." Cas seemed a little shy, and slunk back to stand behind Luke.
Luke wrapped an arm around Han's shoulders. "So what are you guys doing here?" Luke asked him. Han smiled and shrugged.
"What do you think we're doing here? We're buying a turkey." Han said. Luke gave him a funny look and Han chuckled. "NO. Actually, we're just here for the fun of it, I wanted to listen to Threepio whine." Han gave the droid an agravated glare.
"Oh! Sir, I KNEW you took delight in my freakish misery!" Threepio exclaimed merrily.
"Yup, you're a freak all right." Han sneered.
"Well! I never. . ." Threepio snapped and went back to flirting with the metal waiter. "So, do you come here often?"
Han rolled his eyes at the droid turned back to Luke. "So, what are YOU doing here, with your, friend?" He asked and raised an eyebrow in Cas's direction.
Luke gave an oh-cut-that-out look and wrapped an arm around Leia. "Running into you, it looks like."
Han pulled Leia away from Luke. "Hey, flirt with your own girl." He teased.
Luke laughed and turned back to Cas. "Well, we didn't get our drinks yet, shall we?" he asked, offering her his arm. Cas took his arm and they walked back to the counter.
"Why didn't you tell him why we're here?" she whispered in Luke's ear. "I didn't want him spreading the news, you see, I'm looking for a Sith." Luke whispered back.
"WHAT!" Cas shouted.
Luke clamped his hand over her mouth and gave her an annoyed look. "See what I mean."
Cas realized her mistake and giggled against his hand. Luke rolled his eyes and dropped his han. He pulled her closer and whispered. "We've got to find them, I don't know where they are, but they're here." He siad, indicating the planet. Cas shifted uncomfortably, not used to being so close to him.
"Em, how do you know?" she asked him.
Luke winked. "Jedi's know these things. "
End Of Chapter Four