Rilme: I think you've waited long enough. Here ya go!

Dream Plane: yay, glad you enjoyed it!

El Droide: Yeah, I know he seemed a bit old, but I know when I'm sick all I want to do is cry, and I'm not much older than he is. I was sick while writing this XD.

Sorry it's been a while! I've been sick and we were up north where there was no wifi and this chapter is also super long.

This chapter takes place over the course of twelve months, and each segment gives detail to just a day or two of each month.

Duchess of Mandalore

Month One

"This way, milady," 15-year-old Obi-Wan Kenobi said, reaching his hand out and helping the young duchess down from the rock ledge she was perched on. Obi and Satine, along with Qui-Gon Jinn, had escaped into the wilderness, away from the murderous riots and death threats of the citizens of Sundari, to where their ship was waiting.

"Thank you," the 16-year-old duchess replied, taking the hand. "What will happen to my people?" She asked as she leapt down delicately.

"I am not certain," Qui-Gon replied, leading the way through the dense underbrush. "But once you are safely away, the Jedi will send another team to mediate peace."

"Ah," she replied.

"But we'll protect you, milady," Obi-Wan cut in a little to enthusiastically. "Won't we, Master?"

"Yes. Ah, there's the ship," Qui said, placing a hand on his lightsaber. "Stay put while I scan the area." Obi drew the duchess into the trees while Qui checked for potential enemies, glad to find there were none. The trio boarded quickly, and headed to Draboon, a remote world that was sparsely populated. They collected supplies and as many survival kits as they could carry, and Obi-Wan offered Satine his extra pair of clothes and boots, so she could get out of that dress.

They headed into the wilderness, intending to get as far from the ship as possible in the fading daylight. The next days were rough, tiring, and hard as they trekked through unknown territory and unfaced foes, never knowing what tomorrow would bring.

Month Two

Obi-Wan stretched and opened his eyes, crawling out of the makeshift shelter. He was filthy, his clothes torn and dirty. Grabbing a ration bar from the pack, he found his Master meditating on a flat rock nearby.

"Obi-Wan," he acknowledged, standing and shaking out his feet. His face was streaked and dirty, his hair matted and coarse. "The duchess still asleep?"

"Yes, but I bet we should wake her. We should get moving, I suppose."

"You do that. I'll be along shortly," Qui-Gon said, placing a hand on his apprentice's shoulder.

"Got it." Obi returned to the tent, shaking Satine's shoulders gently. "Pardon me, milady, but it's time to go." Satine opened her eyes and sat up, rubbing her eyes.

"Okay, Master Jedi," she replied.

"Please, just Obi-Wan."

"Alright, Just-Obi-Wan." Satine stood and followed him out of the shelter, and they collected their meager belongings and followed Qui deeper into the wilderness.

Month Three

The fire blazed bright as the trio sat around it unceremoniously, shoving the meat of an unknown creature into their mouths. At least the hostile landscapes of Draboon offered many food sources, which Qui-Gon always scanned for safety before they took part in eating it.

Obi-Wan had grown attached to the young duchess, offering her help when they were on the move, or offering her the choice pieces of meat, and calling her by her given name rather than 'milady'. Qui noticed this, but said nothing. A stick cracked in the dark, and three heads shot up. All three had been on edge, knowing bounty hunters were watching desperately for Satine.

A small creature emerged from the brush, taking one look at the three people and disappearing again. Three audible sighs could be heard as they went back to their meal.

Month Four

Rummaging in the survival pack for a portable heating unit, Obi-Wan came across a small knife in the bottom of his sack. He withdrew it and tucked it into his pocket, a smile gracing his lips. He had an idea. He picked up a thick stick from the ground and used the Force to break it until he had a chunk of wood roughly the size of his fist. He pocketed that too and returned to Satine with the heating unit.

He sat beside her and withdrew the wood and the knife, gently beginning to scrape away the bark.

Month Five

"Master, bounty hunters!" Obi-Wan cried, igniting his lightsaber and shoving the duchess behind himself. The first of two hunters fired a shot, growling and baring his teeth. Obi deflected as Qui snuck up behind, neatly lopping his arm off. The bounty hunter screamed and clutched at the cauterized stump, disappearing into the wilderness. The second curled her upper lip and snarled, pulling a vibro blade from a sheath at her hip.

"Obi-Wan! Get the duchess to safety!" Qui-Gon shouted, chasing the hunter into the brush. Obi grasped Satine's hand and took off in the other direction, towing the girl behind him. They ran until their legs gave out, and then they ran some more. Branches whipped at their faces, leaving welts and bloody stripes. They were covered in mud from head to toe by the time they stopped and waited.

"Satine, are you all right?" Obi asked, reaching out and wiping blood from her grimy cheek.

"Yes, Obi. A little worse for wear, but I'm alright." She leaned over and kissed his filthy forehead, leaving the Padawan stunned. Satine pulled away and looked at him sheepishly through her lashes. Obi smiled bashfully. Qui-Gon emerged from the brush, muddy, and sticks were tangled in his hair.

"Master! Did you get rid of them?" Obi jumped to his feet and helped his Master sit.

"Yes, but there will be more. Keep a sharp eye out."

"Yes, Master."

Month Six

"Look! A spring!" Obi-Wan cried, jumping excitedly and pointing at a small pool of water. "Can we swim, Master?"

Qui-Gon smiled tiredly, his eyes dull. "I don't see why not," he replied, tying his hair back and stripping his outer tunic off. Obi pulled his off too, and Satine stripped down to her underthings. She gave a boyish whoop and dove into the water headfirst, surfacing with a laugh.

"C'mon Obi!" She called, beckoning to him with a dripping hand. "The water's great!"

Obi-Wan smiled and whooped, leaping into the water and drenching Satine. They surfaced just in time to be dowsed by a giant wave as Qui-Gon jumped in beside them. All three laughed and Qui tugged affectionately on Obi's braid before the Padawan turned and disappeared silently under the water. A few seconds later Satine sank with a squeak. Obi broke the surface, laughing as Satine came up, sputtering.

"Why you little!" Satine broke off at the glare she received from Qui-Gon. Or thought she received. Obi-Wan had snuck up behind her with a water lizard in his hand, intent on sliding it down the back of her tank top. Qui shook his head and pointed behind her, and she turned.

"A water lizard! Wow cool! Can I hold it?" Satine asked. Obi-Wan drooped a bit, disappointed he didn't get the anticipated scream from the girl.

"Sure, Satine," he replied, handing the creature over. Satine took it with pleasure.

"I hate to say it, young ones, but it's time to go," Qui-Gon said. "I sense danger could be headed our way."

"Yes, sir," they answered dutifully, and Satine let the lizard go. They climbed out of the water and redressed, then continued on.

Month Seven

"Satine," Obi-Wan whispered, crawling towards the girl half-asleep on the log beside him. She startled awake and glanced at him, chin in hand.

"Mmm?"

"I, uh, I made this for you," Obi-Wan said, pressing a small carving into her free hand. When it's my life-day, I like to give something rather than get something so I made you this."

"Happy life-day, Obi," Satine said. She looked down at it and gasped. It was a tiny dragon-bird that fit perfectly in her palm, and Obi-Wan had stained the feathers bright colors using natural sources he found in the environment.

"It's beautiful," she breathed, fingering the delicate carving gently. "Thank you."

"You're welcome," Obi replied, blushing a bit in the dark. He turned to go, but Satine grabbed the front of his tunic and pulled him close, pressing a kiss to his lips. Obi jerked in surprise, then leaned into the kiss. He blushed harder as Satine pulled away and disappeared into the darkness.

Month Eight

"Obi, I am fine," Satine insisted even as she hissed through her teeth. They had escaped a nest of venom-mites, Obi-Wan carrying (or trying to) Satine to safety. He had dropped the poor girl on a sharp stone, cutting a deep wound in her stomach.

"No, you are not," Obi-Wan replied grimly as he wiped the wound with antiseptic and packed it with gauze.

"I bleed every month. What's a little more?"

"Not from a place as vital as this. Or well, that's vital too, I mean, uh, that's normal, um,"

"Obi-Wan, shut up," Satine said, grunting as Obi lifted her into a sitting position so he could wrap a bandage around her middle. Obi shut his mouth. Satine kissed him on the lips. Obi-Wan pulled away and blushed.

"Cut that out and get some sleep," the 16-year-old ordered, laying her gently back down and folding his robe under her head. He walked to where his Master was sitting, kneeling down beside him.

"How is she?" Qui asked, wrapping his arm around his apprentice.

"Resting," Obi-Wan replied. "Master, what happens if a Jedi falls in love?"

Qui-Gon looked startled. "Well, Padawan-mine, I've asked myself that many times. I just don't know. Ignore the feeling, I suppose."

"That's not a very good answer."

Qui chuckled. "I know. You'll just have to figure it out on your own."

Obi sighed and vowed silently to himself that if Satine ever told him that she loved him, he would leave to Order for her right then and there.

Month Nine

"Oh Master Jedi," Satine called quietly, shaking the sleeping boy awake. "I have something for you," she said. Obi sat up and rubbed his eyes.

"For me? Why?"

"Remeber the carving? I did the same for you. It's my life-day today and I made you something."

Satine pressed a tiny stone no bigger than his pinkie fingernail into his hand. It was a soft blue, and had a hole bored straight through it. "For your braid," she whispered.

"It's beautiful," Obi replied, tugging his braid from behind his shoulder. "Would you mind?"

Satine took the stone and unwound the braid slightly, weaving the bead in before tying it off again.

"Thank you, Satine, and happy life-day."

Month Ten

"Obi?" Satine found the young man lying on the ground with his Master, gazing up at the sky. The girl laid down beside him. "What are you doing?"

"Stargazing," he replied, tucking his hands behind his head. "Watching for shooting stars."

"Mind if I join?"

"Not at all, milady," he said.

"Why thank you, Just-Obi-Wan."

Month Eleven

"How long have you known Obi-Wan, Master Jinn?" Saturn asked, setting her chin in her hand.

"Oh, let's see now, since he was seven months or so, I'd say. He became my Padawan when he was twelve, and I looked out for him all those years in between."

"Wow, so almost all his life," Satine said.

"Yes, and I am grateful for the little scamp." Qui-Gon glanced over at Obi-Wan, who had fallen asleep to the sound of the fire crackling.

"He sure is special," Satine replied, longing to run her fingers through Obi's hair and wind his braid round her fingers.

"That he is," Qui-Gon agreed.

Month Twelve

"Goodbye, Duchess," Qui-Gon said as they walked to Duchess back to her palace. They had returned to Mandalore shortly after receiving word that the civil war was dying down and Satine would be able to settle the rest of the dispute without fear.

"Goodbye, Master Jinn," Satine said, clasping his hand tightly in a firm handshake. Obi bowed politely.

"Goodbye, milady," he said.

"Goodbye, Just-Obi-Wan," she replied, drawing him into a tight hug. Obi-Wan smiled and melted. Palace guards arrived to escort the Duchess back to her home.

"We'll see each other again, Obi," Satine called over her shoulder as she was pulled away.

"I know," Obi-Wan replied.

...

Which month was your favorite? Mine was probably Month Six. Yay, super long chapter! It was like 2000 words XD.