OBI-WAN

Beth had been right. The vegetable stew had been delicious and as the three of them had sat round the dinner table he'd felt proud to be part of their home life, even if it was only as Beth's gardening apprentice.

As he'd sat at that table, listening to Thalia and Beth chat and occasionally joining in himself, he'd felt very at home. Everything was calm and lighthearted, and on more than one occasion he'd found himself smiling at simply being in this comforting environment.

After dinner, the three of them had retired to the living room where a beautiful log fire burned in the fireplace. Beth sat in one of the armchairs beside the fire and Thalia was perched in the middle of the long sofa while he had taken the armchair by the fireside, opposite to Beth.

Although they were all reading, Obi-Wan hadn't turned his page for the last ten minutes. He was busy studying Thalia. Every so often, her eyes would flick up to meet his before they would both smile and look sheepishly back at their pages.

Something had changed, Obi-Wan noted, over dinner. In a heartbeat he'd made his decision about what the future would hold.

He looked up from his page and saw Thalia watching him, but once their gazes met. She looked back to her book with a slight quirk of her lips.

What Obi-Wan hadn't noticed however, was that while he and Thalia were busy watching each other, Beth had been looking between the two of them as if she were watching a sporting match. Back and forth she watched them before sighing and snapping her book shut.

"I shall see to the kitchen." She decided, and swiftly left the room.

Obi-Wan watched her leave before looking across at Thalia who was trying to suppress a smile. Hesitantly, he got to his feet and crossed the room, taking a seat next to her on the sofa.

"Thalia…y-you said earlier that, as a Jedi, what passed between us would be significantly more complicated for myself, and you were right…" He began, looking down at his hands that were clasped in his lap.

"I understand." Thalia said quietly, as if readying herself to accept what could never be.

"No, you were right. It should be complicated…but it isn't. I…" Obi-Wan sighed and threw his eyes up at the ceiling before taking a steadying breath. He looked earnestly at Thalia who was staring at him with a slight look of confusion on her face. "…if I loved you any less, I might be able to talk about it more."

Obi-Wan faltered slightly, realising what he'd just said and watched Thalia carefully for her reaction. Her eyes widened and her lips parted slightly, as if about to say something, but she remained quiet.

"If you say the word, I will leave the order." He said, more confidently this time.

"Y…" Thalia stammered. "You would sacrifice your future as a Jedi?"

"Yes." Obi-Wan replied, his voice barley above a whisper.

"You would leave the order?" She asked in quiet disbelief.

"Yes." He smiled.

"But…for me?" She asked, unsure.

"Yes." Obi-Wan chuckled, reaching out and grasping her hands in his own. He watched as a single tear rolled down her cheek and he leant forward, kissing it where it met her skin. He smiled slightly at the way he heard her breath catch in the back of her throat. Her hands tightened around his own as he slowly dipped his head, the tip of his nose running along her cheek.

"I love you, Obi." He heard Thalia whisper beside his ear and goosebumps quickly spread over his entire body at the reciprocated sentiment. He leant back slightly to look up at her, before closing the distance between their lips in a quick kiss.

"It's settled then." He said, pulling away. "I will stay on Troska."

Thalia's face burst into a teary smile as she raised her hands to cup his face between her palms. Ducking her head, she pressed her lips against his and Obi-Wan wrapped his arm around her back, holding her close while his other hand came to rest at the side of her neck, his thumb gently running along her cheek. They broke apart and Obi-Wan tilted his head slightly, kissing her again at an angle that was new. He felt the force moving strongly around them and he became hyper-aware of every sensation he was experiencing; the warmth of Thalia's palm on his cheek and the way the material of her gown shifted against his hand when she moved slightly.

It was completely and utterly overwhelming to him, but there had been so many missed opportunities between them that he didn't want to waste a second. Their lips parted, only to meet again in a dance that Obi-Wan felt he'd never learn, but Thalia was there to lead him and he trusted her implicitly.

When she began to back away, he went with her for only a moment longer before he conceded defeat and their lips parted. They remained close however and Obi-Wan opened his eyes to see Thalia lean forward to rest her forehead against his. She grinned and he soon followed suit, causing them both to chuckle.