Several minutes later, after politely thanking Tulii and Beru, Owen stepped outside. "He looked off into the distance to see if he could see any sign of a landspeeder approaching. He did not look very hard, for he doubted Mik and Coolie would be back that night.
Soon, he turned his attention from the dessert waste, and a tall flower with white and gold petals caught his eye. He leaned over and inhaled. He closed his eyes and smiled at the fragrance. "You remind me of Beru."
He sighed and continued to talk to the flower as though it were Beru. "I wish I had the words to say what you mean to me. I'm not sure how you'll take this, but there hasn't been a night since we met I didn't dream of being with you. You are so beautiful. When you smile at me, my soul feels… I know this will sound weird… but, it feels like my soul is on fire, yet soothed at the same time… like a parched man in the desert finding an oasis and finally able to drink water. That's what you are to me, Beru," he cupped the flower in one hand, his first and second fingers on either side of the stem, "you are my water."
"I love you, too."
Owen jumped at the quiet voice behind him. "B-beru! I-i…" he sputtered as he turned to her, inadvertently breaking the flower off the stem. "Oh, no! I'm sorry, I…"
Beru smiled serenely as she gently placed a finger on his lips. She caressed his cheek, "It's alright, Owen, it will grow back."
"Um, how much did you hear?" He wondered.
"From when you told the flower it reminded you of me." She confessed with a slight tinge of humor in her voice.
"Oh." He swallowed nervously.
A mischievous glint lit her eyes as her face took on a mock thoughtful expression. "I'm not sure how to take it… that you'd rather speak to the flower than me."
Owen smiled slightly. "Perhaps it's because I know the flower won't tease me."
Beru giggled for a moment.
The small smile was still upon his lips as he reached up and put the blossom in her hair. "There… now I can speak to both of you at the same time." He said in a husky voice as they gazed into each other's eyes. "Beru," he whispered questioningly.
"Yes?" She whispered as well.
"Back at the bar…"
Beru averted her gaze as she backed away from him. "I'd rather forget about what happened there."
"Beru," he took her hand and gently put his other hand under her chin. Turning her head so she looked back up at him, he continued. "The reason I didn't ask you to dance is I can't. I have about as much rhythm as a bantha with its tail caught on fire."
She covered her mouth when she could not keep from giggling. "I'm sorry, but that's quite an image."
He chuckled as he conceded, "Yes, I guess it is, but it's true."
"I doubt that." She smiled up at him.
"Are you calling me a liar?" He raised his eyebrows in feigned offense.
"Never," she whispered. She squeezed his hand, which still held hers. "Maybe, if you don't know how to dance, I can teach you." She stepped closer to him.
"I'd like that."
Beru placed his hand on her waist and reached up to put her hand on his shoulder. "You start out most slow dances like this," she said as she took his hand with her other hand as their eyes locked on each other's.
Owen stepped closer to her and leaned his head down slowly. "I think I'm going to enjoy this lesson."
Beru held her breath in anticipation as she rose on the tip of her toes. Both she and Owen closed their eyes as their lips came closer to touching.
"It would be easier to teach him to dance if there were some music."
"Oh, Dama, must you keep interrupting?" Beru's voice rose in exasperation as she turned toward her sister.
The youngest of the Whitesun girls pouted as she said defensively, "You don't have to kill the messenger! Daddy sent me out to tell you he's turning on the shields now." With that, she turned to go back inside, mumbling something neither Beru nor Owen could quite catch.
Regretting talking to Dama the way she did, Beru sighed before calling after her sister. "I'm sorry, Dama!" Her shoulders slumped slightly when there was no reply.
Owen placed a hand on Beru's shoulder to comfort her. He tried to give her an encouraging smile when she looked up at him and spoke quietly. "She'll forgive you." Beru looked so sorrowful, he could not help but kiss her on the forehead as he embraced her. "Come on, let's go inside."
Beru returned Owen's embrace, relishing having his strong arms around her. "Ok," she looked up at him, "but first things first." She reached behind his head and pulled it down as she went onto the tips of her toes once more, and kissed him full on the lips.
Eyes widening in surprise, it took a moment for Owen to respond. When he did, it was with much enthusiasm. His heart beat wildly as exhilaration coursed through his veins.
Seconds later, they pulled away from each other and stared deeply into each other's eyes. "I love you." They said in unison. "I love you, too," they both replied to each other at the same time, and then started laughing.
Owen leaned his head forward to rest against hers with a sigh. "We'd better go inside." He lightly caressed her cheek.
Beru smiled and took his hand as she slowly pulled away. They walked inside together, their fingers entwined.
Once inside, Tulii greeted them from the kitchen doorway. "Dinner will be ready soon."
Owen closed his eyes as he inhaled the enticing aroma wafting from the kitchen. "Is that spiced bantha rump?" He all but drooled in anticipation as his stomach growled.
"It sure is," Tulii's voice held both pleasure and amusement at his reaction.
Beru gently squeezed Owen's hand before letting go and headed toward the kitchen. "I'll set the table."
"Dama has already started doing that. Why don't you show Owen to Coolie's room?" She rolled her eyes as she explained, "I doubt she and Mik will be back tonight, so that's where you can sleep."
Owen nodded in understanding. "Yes, ma'am." He followed Beru down the hall to Coolie's room.
As she led him there, she tapped a door. "That's Dama's and my room." A little further, she indicated another door. "This, as you know is the refresher. It also has doors directly to my room on one side and Coolie's on the other." She looked at him and blushed slightly. The next door was Coolie's room. She opened the door and stood slightly to the side, looking up at him a little shyly. "Here it is."
Owen glanced back down the hallway before taking Beru's hand and guiding her in with him. He closed the door behind them. Still holding her hand, he reached up, brushed a stray hair from her face, and traced her cheek with his fingers.
Trembling at his touch, Beru could hardly breathe. She closed her eyes as he leaned forward to kiss her, and she placed a hand on his chest. She could feel his heart beating rapidly through his tunic, and marveled that her heart beat in rhythm with his. She moaned in pleasure as he put his arms around her to pull her close, and her hand rose to caress his cheek.
Owen's heart leapt in his chest as he felt Beru's tongue explore his lips. He flicked his tongue across hers, as he lowered one hand to the small of her back. Breathing heavily, he pulled his head away, reluctantly breaking the kiss. Looking deeply into her incredibly bright, sky blue eyes, he whispered, "Beru, we need to talk."
"Alright," Beru frowned slightly in puzzlement. "Is something wrong?"
"No," Owen shook his head and smiled reassuringly as he took her hand. He led her over to sit on the edge of the bed. Sitting beside her, he continued. "I um, just thought we should get to know each other a little… I mean before we take this any further."
The fact that they were sitting upon a bed was not lost on her, and her heart was still beating rapidly because of their passionate kiss. She glanced at the bed, then back up at Owen with a blush.
"Um, yeah, well, there's nowhere else to sit in here," he guessed what she was thinking, "and I wanted to speak with you in private."
When Beru nodded understanding, he continued. "I um," he swallowed, "well, you know I'm attracted to you."
"Yes," she said quietly.
"And," he drew out the 'a' in and, "I'm fairly certain you are attracted to me." His thumb lightly stroked the hand he was holding.
She swallowed as she nodded quietly.
"Well, I wanted to make sure you know… I don't just want to just um…" he glanced at the bed and back at her meaningfully. "I love you, and I want more than that." He reached up to caress her cheek.
Beru closed her eyes with a soft smile. She reached up and touched the back of his hand, turning her head slightly to kiss his palm. "I love you, too."
He brought the hand he was holding up between them, and at the same time took her other hand. He brought her two hands together, clasping them gently in his. He brought them both up to his lips and kissed her fingers. "I just think we should get to know each other before we do something that could change the rest of our lives."
She looked into his eyes as she replied, "You're right… so, I guess we should ask each other questions?"
"That would be a good start, but will only work if we are both honest in our answers."
"I'll never lie to you, Owen."
"Well, I can't really make that promise." He grinned a little as he said it.
Beru raised an eyebrow. "Why not?"
He blushed slightly as he answered, "Well, I've learned it is better to lie a little sometimes to spare people's feelings."
"I'd rather you be honest with me."
They starred into each other's eyes for a few moments before Owen nodded. "Ok, I promise."
"You first, then." She smiled.
"Huh?"
"You ask a question first." She giggled.
"Oh, yeah…um…" Owen thought a moment. He did not wish to begin with the hard questions, so he asked, "What's you're favorite color?"
"Let's see…" Beru took one hand out of Owen's grasp to put a finger against her chin as she thought. "I like crimson."
"Crimson?" Owen looked at her sideways. "What kind of color is that?"
"Well, if you're going to make fun of my favorite color…" She folded her arms and turned her back to him. Though he could not see it, her eyes sparkled with amusement, and she fought hard not to laugh.
"No, Beru, I wasn't making fun…" he said in alarm, "I um… I'm just not sure what shade crimson is exactly. I'm sorry," he placed a hand gently on her shoulder, "I… I'm just a stupid farmboy." He took his hand off her shoulder. He looked sullenly down at both his hands in his lap.
Beru turned back towards him. "Oh, Owen," she put a hand on top of his and placed her other hand on his cheek. "You are not stupid!"
He looked up at her. "I feel stupid."
His sorrowful eyes and the dejected sound of his voice broke her heart. "I'm sorry, Owen, I was only teasing when I turned my back… I wasn't really offended… I… didn't mean to make you feel stupid." She put her hands in her lap and sighed at a loss as to what else to say.
"So..." Owen asked quietly as he reached over to take her hand, "what shade is crimson?"
"Well, it's sort of a cross between orange and red, but softer… you know, the color the sky turns on the rare times there is moisture in the air and the suns set?"
"Oh! That's crimson? I always called it orangey-red."
Beru had to cover her mouth again as she started giggling.
"Don't you laugh at me!" He reached around her with one arm and tickled her on both sides of the waist.
"Ah!" She squealed with laughter as she squirmed. She quickly snaked out an arm to tickle him under his armpit and laughed harder as Owen jumped and twisted away slightly. Then they were rolling around on the bed, laughing and tickling each other.
They suddenly stopped in unison and gazed into each other's eyes.
"Damn it," Owen whispered breathlessly, "I want you."
Beru leaned toward him to give him a kiss, but paused with a low moan when there was a knock upon the door. She leaned her forehead against his chest and whispered, "Dinner's ready."
Owen ran his fingers through her hair and whispered in her ear. "We'll continue this later."
She kissed Owen's cheek before whispering back, "I'll hold you to that."
"I'd rather you hold me to you." Then he closed his eyes and shook his head with a groan. "That made no sense."
Beru giggled just before the knock, louder this time, came again. "I guess we'd better answer."
"Yeah," he sighed as they both rose from the bed.
"Ugh!" Beru caught sight of herself in the mirror on Coolie's closet door. "My hair's an absolute mess!"
"It looks nice," Owen said as he gazed back at her on the way to the door.
"Hmph, I thought we agreed to total honesty."
"I am being honest!" He replied earnestly as she went into the refresher to fix her hair. He rolled his eyes as he muttered under his breath, "Women!" He then opened the door.
Dama stood outside the room, head lowered, and eyes looking at her feet. "Sorry to interrupt… again… but, dinner is ready."
"Thank you, Dama." Owen smiled.
The youngest Whitesun girl looked up at Owen and shyly smiled back. Then she looked past him with a frown. "Where's Beru?"
"She's in the refresher."
"Oh," she looked puzzled, "what was so funny?"
"Huh, when?"
"I heard the two of you laughing right before I knocked on the door, and afterwards I heard Beru giggling."
"Oh… that… um… I um… she…"
"Dama," called Tulii.
"Yes, mom?"
"You forgot the napkins, sweetheart."
"Oh, I'll be right there." She looked back up at Owen and shrugged with a sheepish grin as she whispered conspiratorially. "I can't see why we can't just use our sleeves when we're going to put the clothes in the laundry anyways." With that, she skipped down the hallway.
Owen chuckled as he watched her go, and then he looked back into his room at the refresher door. "Beru, are you coming?"
"Yes, are you?" She said in a teasing tone from outside the refresher door in the hallway.
He looked at Beru with a confused expression. "But, a second ago you weren't…" he closed his mouth and shook his head. "Never mind," he muttered as he strode over to Beru. He took both her hands in his and gently stroked the backs of her knuckles with his calloused thumbs. Looking into her eyes, he asks, "Ready for dinner?"
She nodded. "How's my hair look?"
He looked at her hair. "Beautiful, but then I liked it how it was before you fixed it, to."
She narrowed her eyes as she looked at him, and then smiled when she realized he was telling the truth. "Let's go." She slid one hand out of his, and turned to walk to the dining room with him.