Author's Notes: Merry Christmas, y'all! For everyone who celebrates it, have a joyous day … for those who don't, have a lovely Sunday. So, I went to see Assassin's Creed yesterday, and found it far more interesting and enjoyable than Warcraft (the last videogame adaptation I went to see) … the only thing even remotely memorable about Warcraft was how much Lothar reminded me of Obi-Wan. In any event, we lurch ahead with our two stubborn Jedi … evidently, the Force on occasion not only matchmakes, but behaves like an exasperated parent, as we see in this chapter. Much to the chagrin of both Obi-Wan and Merit (and mine, because I wanted to build up to this a little more, rather than have it come out of nowhere).

Responses to Guest Reviews:

Hi, Kyle … thanks for your review. Ordinarily, adding characters from another fandom/show isn't something I do unless I plan to write a crossover or a fusion, because it can be risky. There are some characters that just do not translate well into another fandom. In this case, I made the exception because I could see those six characters slotting into the Star Wars universe as a whole (plus Tayn/Slade absolutely refused to shut up until I wrote it).

Part Five

Kiss Felt 'Round the Galaxy

Mid-Rim

Three years after Naboo Invasion

He had a feeling he would regret this, especially when he saw his partner's eyes widen at his announcement … followed by a steely expression that meant They Would Have Words About This Later. That was fine … because that made the assumption that they would both be alive to have words about what he was about to do. Perhaps his actions weren't entirely necessary (but the Force was telling him that what he was about to do was very, very necessary indeed and why his partner wasn't hearing that, he had no idea), but Obi-Wan had a Bad Feeling that doing anything else would get them all killed. And there wasn't enough time to tell her that, with such a small window of opportunity. That, however, didn't stop him from offering her a reassuring smile. He turned back to the prince they were here to protect during the negotiations and said quietly, "I will return shortly … remain here with Knight Solo, and she will look after you." And in the event that Obi-Wan failed, she would die protecting the prince. But Obi-Wan would not fail … at least, not this time.

He nodded to the prince and started for the stairs that led up out of the bunker and into the main part of the palace, but froze as Merit called his name. He turned to face her, lips parted to again reassure her … but found himself unable to say a word when her small hands came up to cup his face and she pressed her lips against his own. Just as quickly as it began, it ended and Merit drew away, whispering, "Be careful. Please." Still stunned that his long-held desire just came true (she felt the same way he did?), he nodded and pressed a light kiss to her forehead before taking his leave of her once more.

He successfully made his way up into the palace … and then into the communications center, where he was able to send the distress call that ended up saving them all. And best of all, once they were rescued, he learned that the attack on the palace ended up saving the negotiations. Where the prince from the rival family had been dragging his feet about certain requests, he now conceded … and took things a step beyond. All in all, it was a good day. At least until they retreated to the ship that would take them home and where Merit was reunited with her toddler … and Merit decided now was a good time for that 'Later' talk (all right, so he opened the door for that particular conversation).

He'd just emerged from the sonic shower, feeling her turbulent emotions through the Force and their bond. To her credit, she was trying to release her emotions into the Force … the sheer terror she'd felt, along with the anger. That was as much due to her concern for Bran, now sleeping peacefully in the next room as anything else. And, much to his surprise, she wasn't angry with him … not really. With the situation, yes … with her own terror, absolutely. But not really with him. Because of that (and because they needed to deal with The Kiss), he said without looking up from the messages he was checking, "Something you need to say, Merit?"

At that, she erupted furiously, "You foolish, foolish man! What were you thinking?" He raised an eyebrow at her, and she went on, "I'm not arguing that you did what was necessary … but you didn't have to go through the palace. You heard what the prince said … there was an alternate way to the communications center! You risked your life for … oh, you foolish man!" He'd scared her badly. Unfortunately, she'd scared him quite a few times, once only a matter of weeks earlier … and the memory of the Kiss was making him short-tempered. So was the realization that he wanted to kiss her again.

And he was more than a little stung by her accusation that he'd risked his life for nothing. The mission wasn't nothing … her life wasn't nothing. And again, the memory of her lips pressed against his sent tremors through his body. Why had she done that? It was so much easier to push those feelings away when he thought his feelings for her weren't reciprocated. Or were they? Did she really feel the same way he did, or was she caught up in the moment? Merit asked again, her voice tight with pain and fear, "What were you thinking?"

On any other day, Obi-Wan could have let it go. On any other day, he could have released his own frustration into the Force … on any other day when Merit Solo hadn't kissed him and sent his world into a tailspin. Staring at her in shock, Obi-Wan fired back, "You … you have the gall to ask me what I was thinking, after pulling so many kriffing insane stunts, it's a wonder you're not dead? You are the parent of a small boy, not I … yet that didn't stop you from placing yourself between a maddened Jedi and someone he wanted dead!" Merit folded her arms over her chest, her brown eyes never leaving his face. Only the barest hint of a grimace told him that his accusation hit home, but Merit wasn't backing down. So be it, then.

"In the first place," she replied in a voice entirely too calm, and highly at odds with the near shriek she'd assaulted him with when he returned to the governor's bunker (along with the fiercest hug he'd ever received from anyone), "I was never in any danger with Tayn. As soon as I moved in front of him, he started shifting so that he didn't accidently hurt me if he went after Zalan. Secondly, that was the only even remotely insane thing I've done since adopting Bran. Thirdly, watch your language, my two and half year old son is in the next room and he's picking up on things I'd rather he not learn. And finally, my original question stands … what the ever-lovin' kriff were you thinking?"

Obi-Wan sighed and ran his hand over his face, rubbing at the (still slightly-itchy) beard that he'd been growing over the last few months. They could argue about this until Bran woke up … or he could start answering her questions … and maybe find out what the Force was saying to her that she hadn't known about the danger. He said quietly, "I was thinking about protecting both sides in this negotiation, Merit … and I was thinking about ensuring that Bran wouldn't lose his mother so soon after losing his father. Most of all, I was thinking about the warning I was getting from the Force, that taking the less-direct path would be more dangerous. Merit, while you were reassuring the princes once we were all out, if I'd tried to take that other path … I would now be dead. Worse, we would all be dead because of the damage taken during the initial blast. It badly damaged the lift from the bunker to the communications center … and there was unexploded ordnance trapped between the wall and the lift."

Merit's face crumpled and she whispered brokenly, "I'm sorry. It's just …at the exact same time the Force was warning you not to take that alternate route, it was sending a different warning to me. It was telling me …" She froze, her brown eyes widening. Concerned, Obi-Wan took a step forward and Merit breathed, "The warning … it quieted. After … after I kissed you." She blushed then, as if just now realizing what she'd done, and Obi-Wan very carefully didn't laugh. Merit actually squeaked, "Oh Force … I actually kissed you! I've wanted to do it for such a long time, but I couldn't work up the courage, and I didn't think you wanted me. I mean, I'm not exactly pretty, and there are so many other Knights who you could have … mmph!"

Somewhat overwhelmed by the rush of words that flowed out of the shocked young woman (and where did she get the idea that she wasn't pretty?), Obi-Wan cupped her face in his hands and kissed her. It was the barest brushing of her lips at first, but then his fingers started tangling in her silky dark hair, and the kiss intensified on both sides. The Force swirled around them both, all but singing its delight and a sense of 'it's-about-time.' When they broke apart, Merit still staring at him wide-eyed, Obi-Wan murmured, "Never let me hear you say that again. You are beautiful to me, Merit Solo. And I've wanted to kiss you for quite some time as well, but wasn't sure if you'd welcome my attention." Now Merit was staring at him in frank disbelief. Obi-Wan felt a smile teasing at his mouth, pure relief threatening to turn that hint of a smile into a laugh. Merit felt the same way he did. And she'd initiated their first kiss.

"You, dear one, are an idiot … who wouldn't want you? You're gorgeous … especially now with that lovely beard. We won't talk about the nights I've woken up with sweat-soaked sleep clothes after dreaming about that beard against my skin," Merit retorted and Obi-Wan arched a brow at her. Really? Hmm. Now that he thought about it … oh, Force, the mental images those words provoked! Heat rose to his cheeks, and Merit added, sounding both intrigued and amused, "And you're adorable when you blush. I have to confess, the times I've said truly shocking things? I did it deliberately just to make you blush."

Just for that, he had to kiss her again, deepening it until she moaned into his mouth, and then he pulled back when his own head started spinning. She stared at him, looking as dazed as he felt, and managed to say, sounding more than a little breathless, "Unless you wish to take things further tonight, dear one … I would suggest we stop there. I am not ready to do anything more than kiss, much as I wish to … and I suspect the same is true of you." On the one hand, Obi-Wan was annoyed that she was still capable of rational thought. On the other hand …

"I am not ready. Besides, Bran is in the next room. We should at least find someone to stay the night with him before we go any further," Obi-Wan agreed, resting his forehead against hers. There was a part of him which wondered if they were moving too fast. But … they'd known each other for nearly three years, been partners for much of that time, and picked each other up during their lowest points. She wasn't Siri, she wasn't Satine … she was Merit, and being Merit was more than enough. She didn't have to be anyone else.

Right now, she huffed a laugh, murmuring, "So very true. I suppose we both should meditate about what this means going forward? Or, at least get some rest. And I owe you an apology. Even if the Force was playing matchmaker …" Obi-Wan kissed her forehead lightly, wrapping his arms around her waist and drawing her flush against his chest. It was forgiveness, and an apology, and a promise, all wrapped up into one.

"Already forgiven. Although, we will be having a conversation about your definitions of 'insane,' at some point. The confrontation with Tayn was far from the only insane stunt you've pulled in recent memory, my dear," he retorted. There was a snort from somewhere in the vicinity of his collarbone, along with a muffled, 'bantha poodoo.' Obi-Wan shook his head with a small smile. And then Merit pulled back to look at him, mischief lighting her expression. Oh dear. That expression never boded well for him.

"Well. We'll just see about that, dear one," Merit answered, before pulling him into another kiss, intensifying it until his legs threatened to give out on him and it was he who was moaning into her mouth. Brat. This didn't solve anything … really, if anything, it further complicated life, for them both. She had a little boy to raise, and he continued to have a contentious relationship with his former Master (thanks in part to Obi-Wan's own relationship with Merit). But … he had the sense that in the end, it would all be worth it.

TBC