A/N: I am particularly happy with how this chapter turned out...the first time I wrote it it ended up very dark...I'll most likely add it as a deleted scene at the end of the story. Also, this chapter is dedicated to SwordFreak92 for the awesome and kind reviews that I've recived from you! Thanks a bunch!

Disclaimer: I don't own SW or KotOR I or II.

Chapter 7: A Confession From A Friend

It was quiet out on the veranda...the only sound was her own breathing. The lights on the other buildings had dimmed as their occupants went to sleep. Amira could not sleep; it had been such a busy day; a day full of excitement and celebration. It had been several months sense the death of the three Sith Lords, and the Republic had decided that it was now safe enough for the Jedi to return. Admiral Onasi had celebrated the return of the Jedi with a large festival.

Amira was never fond of large crowds. Most of the guests wanted to know every tiny detail about what had transpired on Malachor V and what had happened on the Ravager. Those were moments that were best left for the darker parts of the mind. She preferred it that way. Sometimes it seemed as if time flowed too quickly...but not here. Here on this veranda, time moved slowly. That was why Amira liked it best out here. There was no worries, no problems...just silence.

She took a quiet breath of the fresh air. It was good to finally be able to rest and relax. For the past moths had been busy with rebuilding the enclave on Dantooine and recruiting more Force-sensitives secretly. There was still the threat of the Sith; they continued to occupy several planets on the Outer Rim. Amira sighed. They may never destroy the darkside completely...but her and the rest of the Jedi would certainly try.

Amira sensed a familiar presence behind her. "Mical?"

"Am I interrupting something?" He asked softly.

"No, not at all. Please." Amira motioned for him to join him on the veranda. "It is so refreshing and beautiful out here. I sometimes just like to reflect on all of it."

Mical smiled. "Yes, it certainly is. It is good to have a break for once. Although, we are scheduled to head back to Dantooine soon."

Amira did not face him but remained looking outside. "Yes...sadly. I love it here on Coruscant. It is so lively...yet at night, it seems as if time slows down."

"Time always keeps its beat...almost as if it has a rhythm to it." Mical reflected. "Time also changes many things...as well as people."

Amira turned to him. "True...sometimes for better, other times for worse."

They stood there together in a comfortable silence for several moments. Both just enjoying each other's company. Amira rested her hands on the railing, as she looked farther out towards the Jedi Temple. Or what was once the great Jedi Temple. Another casualty of the war and of the Sith. It was saddening seeing it empty and lifeless. Amira remembered her training at the temple...with many different Masters. Each teaching about the Force in their own way. Now they were all gone.

"It is not as it was." She said sadly.

Mical look quizzically at her before noticing that she was looking out at the Jedi Temple. "All things fade with time. We are here now and we will be able to rebuild the Order. The Jedi will again protect the galaxy."

"Yes...but I do have my doubts." Amira said mostly to herself. "I don't know if I'm strong enough, Mical. What if I fail?"

Mical put his hands over hers gently. "You will not fail. I have faith in you."

"I only hope I won't let you down." Amira added.

"You never have, and you never will." Mical said confidently.

Silence fell between the two Jedi Knights once again. Amira could sense Mical's nervousness. She decided against commenting on it. If Mical had something to tell her, he would tell her. She trusted him. She knew that she had feelings for him...more so than anyone else knew. Feelings of the heart.

"Amira?" Mical finally said.

"Yes?" She turned to face him.

"There is something I must ask of you." Mical started fidgeting with one of the pockets on his suit.

Amira gasped as he got down on one knee. "Mical-"

"From the moment I met you...I loved you. Although at the time I merely thought that it was an infatuation, admiration if you will. But as I've spent more time with you...it has grown into something else. It has blossomed into love. I love you, Amira." Mical opened the small box that he had withdrawn from his pocket. "I ask now if you share my feelings. If so, will you marry me?"

"I...we..." Amira couldn't get a complete sentence out. He loved her. Did she love him? She knew she cared for him deeply...but love? "It is against the Code..."

"I know. But I had to ask...you must know how I feel about you." She noticed Mical's concern in his eyes. Mical had let himself become vulnerable...for her.

"If the rest of the Council finds out-"

"Yes, I know." Mical said quickly. "Do you love me, Amira?"

"I...well...we...and I..." It was now down to what was more important. The Jedi Order or Mical? "Yes. Yes, I'll marry you!"

Mical stood up and Amira jumped into his arms. She could sense the relief flooding into him. She kissed him a couple times quickly to reassure him that she meant what she said.

"We must keep it a secret. No one can know." Amira whispered into Mical's ear. Mical nodded and wrapped his arms around her...and for once in her entire life: Amira felt safe. Safe and happy...

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These dreams were really starting to get to her...and they hurt. Yet, at the same time, she loved them. Amira realized that her dreams were the last connection she had to Mical. Through her dreams, she could be with him again. She could see him, feel him...he would be with her once again. Her heart ached with an emptiness that Amira felt strongly. She had to be strong...for Mical's sake.

She knew for a fact that Mical would not want her beating herself up over his death...but she could not help herself. Amira had loved him...and not being with him, not loving him, was killing her inside. She felt like she was losing her grip on reality. If she had the chance to catch Mical's killer, would she kill him too? Would she continue the cycle of death?

Her eyes began to water as she sat there contemplating her future; a future without the one she loved, without Mical. She needed help...if she continued down this path of uncontrolled emotions...it would lead her to a place where she feared there would be no returning from. Would she become the very thing she hated? The very thought of it sent shivers up and down her spine.

There was a knocking on the door. Amira quickly got dressed and opened it to see Mira standing there, her hands on her hips. Mira's hair was down for once, and it looked very nice. Mira was dressed in some light brown robe...but she looked uncomfortable in it. She remembered having to practically fight Mira to get her to wear a robe in the first place. She had always said that it was too restricting.

"Mira! It is good to see you...how have you been?" Amira said cheerfully.

Mira rolled her eyes. "Not as good as you'd think. I just got back from a difficult mission and the Council already wants to send me back out. It's almost as if they don't want me around." Amira laughed.

"You are a handful sometimes..." Amira said sarcastically. "But I believe there is some other reason for you coming here..."

"Yeah...well..." Mira said hesitantly.

"Come inside and we'll talk." Amira motioned for her friend to enter her living quarters.

Mira walked in gracefully. Amira had always admired Mira's cat-like grace. "So?"

"So what?" Amira replied innocently.

"Oh, don't give me that. How are you holding up?" Mira asked softly.

"Fine. Never been better." Amira lied.

"Really? Because I thought that you were still upset about-"

"Don't." Amira knew what she was going to say. "Let it drop."

Mira smiled sadly. "If it's any consolation...I miss him too. He wasn't always the most interesting person...but he was a good guy."

Amira looked at Mira with a sad look...Mira was the only person who knew about the extent of her feelings towards Mical. She had known that they were in love...Amira never told her that they had married in fear that she might accidentally let it slip to one of the Council members. A dark cloud blocked out the sun for a brief moment, casting a dark shadow across both Jedi Knight's faces. In that brief moment, both could see each other's pain.

"What's wrong, Mira?" she asked quietly.

"Promise you won't tell anybody?" Mira asked nervously.

"Yes, of course. I trusted you with my secret, you can trust me with yours." Amira said vehemently.

"Atton is missing. No one knows where he is..." Mira sighed dramatically, "And I'm worried about him."

Amira had been so consumed with her own problems that she hadn't been paying much attention to anyone else's. Now that Mira mentioned it...she hadn't seen Atton since before the accident. Then another question popped into her head. Why was Mira's so worried? She could hear and sense Mira's anxiety over the matter. It wasn't like her to get distressed over anyone, least of all Atton.

"We don't force anyone to train and stay here. Perhaps he decided that he had a different calling in life...or, knowing Atton, he just decided to ditch the Jedi. He once told me that he was a deserter...so I am not that worried about him-" Amira explained.

"Well, I am worried about him. Don't you think it's a little strange he hasn't contacted anyone?" Mira asked. Her eyes flitted about continuously.

Amira knew something besides that was bothering her close friend. "What is it?"

"What do you mean? I just told you!" Mira yelled, frustrated.

"There is something else..." Amira tilted her head to the side; Mira looked at her innocently. "Mira, innocent looks about as good on you as it does on Atton."

Just saying his name brought a warm look to her eyes. Amira noticed that look and immediately put the two together.

"You love him, don't you?" Amira said, amazed.

"What? No! Of course not..." Mira paused. "Alright...I do. But can you say it any louder?"

"Sorry..." Amira looked at her friend fondly. She knew how it felt to be in love...it wasn't an easy feeling to eliminate, or lose. "How long?"

"I'm not exactly sure when I realized that I loved him but...I know it could get me in a lot of trouble. That's why I came to you."

Amira immediately started shaking her head. She wouldn't help her friend hide it...in the long run, it would destroy her...as it had done to her. Amira could not lose anyone else that she loved. Mira's eyes fell to the floor. She hated it when Mira played the guilt card, it always got her. Always. Already a plan began forming in her head if Mira asked her for advice.

"Mira-"

"No, listen. I know what I'm getting myself into by loving Atton, but I can't help it." Mira sighed. "You'd think I'd know better and not get involved with Atton's type..."

"What do you want me to do?" Amira asked.

"I need advice. That's why I came to you. I know you and Mical were in love and," Mira paused trying to think of the appropriate words. "I need some advice on what I should do."

"I...can't. It was wrong...we shouldn't have fallen in love in the first place..." Amira said with little conviction.

"Whatever you need to tell yourself to go to sleep at night..." Mira mumbled. "I know you better than that, Amira."

Amira smiled, although it was an empty smile filled with regrets and fears. "You must follow your heart, that is all I can tell you."

"What if my heart doesn't know what to do?"

"It always knows the right path to take, although the path may not end the way you plan." Mira nodded sympathetically.

"Thanks, Amira." They gave each other a friendly hug and Mira left.

Amira's words still hung in the air. What did her heart say? She no longer knew what her heart wanted...as it was always crying now. Revenge. Was that what her heart looked for? Would that bring her the peace she hungered for? You must do what you feel is right...even if it leads you to the darkside. The darkside has many answers...including some you seek. The voices were silent after that...leaving several things left unspoken for Amira to think about...

A/N: Please review and tell me what you think! I appreciate any and all feedback I recieve! Any suggestions or constructive criticism would be extremely welcomed! This story is also going to be roughly 20 chapters so just letting you know...and I do intend on making a sequel! With who in it, you ask? Now, now, now...that would be telling...