Thank you so much for the reviews! I'm glad you are enjoying this.

This upcoming chapter lightens things up a little as we get everyone's reaction to what Obi-Wan went through. This story is supposed to be a humor / drama mix in which I use the humor challenge quote in it at some point (not till later though), and the last chapter was so heavy in the "drama" department, I decided to write at least the first part of this with some humor, along with some Siriwan moments - hope you enjoy it, and Please, feel free to leave a review! They are so appreciated!

Once again - many thanks to Valairy Scot for the beta and suggestions for this chapter.

Chapter 4: Laughter Is The Best Medicine - Right?

When Obi-Wan strolled into the galley the next morning, gasps caught his attention. He looked up to find four concerned Jedi staring at him. Anakin rushed to his side, barely ahead of Siri who had dropped her muffin onto the table and came up just behind him.

"Master, are you all right?" Anakin asked.

Obi-Wan nodded. "I'm fine. Just a bad night, that's all." Siri narrowed her eyes. She motioned for Anakin to step aside as she faced him and looked at him closely. Anakin retreated to his seat.

After the lengthy cold shower Obi-Wan had dressed and then spent the rest of the sleep cycle in deep meditation, releasing all the resentments and emotions of the previous few hours. After several hours he had finally found serenity again - for the most part. The headache that had descended on him after she had left had not dissipated. But he felt much better, even almost cheerful when he walked into the galley. The humiliation and resentment of what had happened was gone. He was no longer angry; his body had reacted the way a man's body would in such a situation, brought to the proverbial "point of no return" he had heard about. He accepted that his body had needed to release and was now at peace about it.

While meditating, he realized that he had done something very difficult for men to do, even most Jedi. Despite the intensity of the situation, he had resisted the seduction of a very attractive Sirenian female, refusing to allow his passion to overcome him to the point of taking this girl into his arms, but instead had found the strength to push her away and out of his room.

He felt good about that, and he knew that a large part of the strength he had found was because of this woman standing in front of him. So he gazed at her tolerantly and affectionately as she scrutinized him. He didn't think he looked that bad. Just tired. He rubbed his eyes.

"This was more than a bad night, Obi-Wan. You look terrible," Siri said worriedly.

He grinned. "Thanks a lot!" he quipped.

Siri shook her head. " No! You're pale with dark circles under your eyes. You look like you didn't sleep at all. What happened?" Her voice lowered as realization came to her. "She tried something, didn't she?"

Obi-Wan nodded. "She came to my room. She ...she...well ...," he glanced at the boys, their eyes on him eagerly as they anticipated a good story. He hesitated, and then shrugged, unwilling to go into details. "Then I resisted, then kicked her out. She left quite angry."

Obi-Wan watched Master Dunn nod his approval at him, then hid a smile as the two disappointed padawans sunk into their chairs.

His attention returned to Siri just as a flash of anger crossed her eyes. He placed his hand on her shoulder and smiled at her gently. She relaxed a little, but stormy, questioning eyes told him she was not satisfied and would demand details later. He would tell her everything, including how thoughts of her had given him the strength to resist what had been happening to him. He suddenly wondered at the seeming contradiction in the code; his love for this woman and memories of their denied relationship was part of what saved his virtue last night. He wanted to laugh.

Siri gazed questioningly into his eyes and frowned. "Was it that amusing?" she asked dryly, a hint of annoyance in her voice.

He shook his head. "I'll explain later, Siri. It's okay. It's over. She didn't get what she was after."

Siri looked relieved and nodded but then bristled, her eyes sparking. "It's a darn good thing," she said quietly, "or she might be missing a body part. She might anyway."

"Siri...," Obi-Wan warned gently. "Jedi, remember?"

Siri stared at him a moment, then nodded and Obi-Wan felt her anger dissipate into the force. He nodded at her with a slight grin.

Her face then softened into concern for him. She squeezed his arm gently. "Sit down Obi-Wan. I'll get you some tea."

Obi-Wan nodded appreciatively and sat down. Anakin, who had sat quietly watching his master, now looked at him with a sparkle in his eye.

"So she came on to you, huh Master?"

Obi-Wan glanced at him warily and slightly nodded his head.

Anakin leaned forward a little, eyes eager. "Did she get naked?"

Obi-Wan gave him a sharp look. "Anakin...," he warned.

Anakin continued to tease his master. "I'll bet she did. What do you think, Ferus?"

Ferus cleared his throat, then croaked, "Leave me out of this. Please."

"Very wise decision, Padawan," Siri said, a slight edge to her voice. Obi-Wan cringed inwardly.

Ferus's head dropped lower as his cheeks reddened. He stared at his plate as though it might get up and walk away if he didn't watch it.

"Well, I want to know!" Anakin pressed. "How close did she get to you? Did she touch ..."

"Anakin! I don't believe this is appropriate conversation, especially to your master!" Obi-Wan said firmly.

Master Dunn stared wide eyed between master and padawan. Obi-Wan couldn't help a slight grin. Master Dunn didn't know Anakin very well, and wasn't used to being around a boy like him. Usual Jedi protocol was pretty much lost on his padawan, but he, Siri and Ferus were used to it.

"My apologies, Master," Anakin said with a pout and bowed his head, then he shrugged and looked up again with a glint in his eyes. "What I don't understand is, why did she pick you? Does she like men with beards or something?"

Master Dunn rolled his eyes and Siri coughed.

"Oh, and what do you mean by that, my Padawan? Do you have someone more suited in mind? You perhaps?" Obi-Wan's dry comment brought an amused smile to the others' faces.

He grinned. "Well, I am younger and stronger. More athletic." He enjoyed teasing his master, and shook his head solemnly. "Why she would pick on an old man..."

"Anakin! That is quite enough!" Amused silence gave way to suppressed snickering by the others in the room.

"Besides, I am not old." Snorts and grunts answered him. Ferus, still staring at his plate, held his hand over his mouth, his face red as his shoulders shook.

"I'm still young! I still have strength and agility...one might even say that I'm quite...er...virile...still.." Obi-Wan wondered how he let Anakin draw him into this. He began invisioning lots of temple floors that needed to be scrubbed by an impertinent padawan.

Then he heard Siri shift. "Oh no."

oooo

As angry as Siri was about what that girl had done to him, even she couldn't contain an amused smile at Obi-Wan's expense. Anakin's teasing had lightened the mood and Obi-Wan's wan face had begun to look better. Although she wouldn't exactly call bright red a natural color.

"Oh yes, he is. I've noticed that myself," she drawled, sauntering over to pinch Obi-Wan' s cheek playfully. He ducked and glanced at her and she winked so only he could see. He rolled his eyes.

All eyes turned to her in surprise.

"What?" Siri said, squeezing Obi-Wan's shoulder. "I may be a Jedi, but I'm not blind. Nor dead."

The boys snickered as she smiled sweetly at Obi-Wan and gave him his tea.

oooo

Obi-Wan grimaced at her and raised an eyebrow in mock annoyance, and took a sip.

"Mmm, that's good tea," he thought, glad for the distraction.

"Thank you, Siri, you always know how I like it," he said.

"And don't you forget it," she quipped as she sat next to him at the table.

He shook his head slowly. "Oh brother."

Ferus stared, gaping at his master as Anakin opened his mouth to say something impertinent, but at the scathing look from both Obi-Wan and Siri, his mouth snapped shut.

"Best leave that one alone, Padawan," he warned.

"Yes, Master," answered Anakin in their bond, then he smirked.

Silence then reigned as everyone settled down with their own thoughts. Obi-Wan didn't mind the teasing; what happened had happened and it didn't bother him anymore, but now his headache pounded fiercely. He winced.

After a few minutes, Anakin looked up at his master, all teasing aside.

"Why didn't I sense anything wrong, Master?" Anakin asked, concern once again in his voice.

"Well, apparently, not only can she shield herself, she can shield whole rooms. No one could have sensed anything."

"That sounds almost like dark side activity," Healer Dunn said. "I wonder if she's had any training from a dark side user?"

"It wouldn't surprise me," Obi-Wan answered.

Obi-Wan looked at both young men seriously. "You boys stay away from her. She's dangerous. I don't think she would try anything with either of you, bu..."

"No, because she wants you," Anakin said, his face inexplicably darkened. The teasing banter of a few minutes ago gone, Obi-Wan was concerned by Anakin's sudden and surprising statement.

"Anakin," Obi-Wan said sharply. "Is that jealousy?"

No amused snickering now; everyone was quiet as Anakin stared at his master for a moment. Then he dropped his head, chastened.

"I guess it was, Master. I'm sorry. I don't know what came over me."

Obi-Wan softened. " I do. You have been affected by her. This is why you need to stay away from her, both of you. Don't spend anymore time with her than you have to, and try not to be alone with her at any time."

Both padawans said, "Yes, Master."

Obi-Wan then closed his eyes and rubbed his head wearily.

"Headache, Obi-Wan?" Master Dunn asked. "Did she come to your room with any kind of scent?"

"Did she ever. It took quite a while to get it all out."

"That could be why you have a headache, then. The female Sirenian perfume can be toxic sometimes. I'll go get something for it." Healer Dunn rose from his seat and headed out of the room.

Obi-Wan suddenly looked up. "Has anyone seen Vyxn this morning?"

"No, Master, she hasn't come out of her room yet."

"I don't trust that she hasn't. I'm going to find her."

Siri said, "I'll come with you, Obi-Wan."

He nodded, then turned to the boys. "You two stay in case she comes in here. Stay together. Comm me if she comes in."

Both padawans nodded and said, "Yes, Master." He looked at both boys. Anakin looked unsure while Ferus had a much more determined face. Obi-Wan hoped Ferus would obey, even if Anakin didn't. They hurried from the galley toward Vyxn's quarters.

As soon as they were alone, Siri grabbed Obi-Wan's arm and stopped him. He turned to her.

"What did she do to you, Obi-Wan?" she asked.

"I'll tell you later, Siri, after we're at the temple. I promise."

He began to walk again, Siri next to him.

"So did she?"

"Did she what?" Obi-Wan wasn't sure he wanted to hear what she was going to ask.

"Get naked."

Obi-Wan stood still, looking straight ahead, then slightly nodded.

He felt her stiffen next to him.

"Did she get to you?"

Obi-Wan sighed. Siri could be blunt sometimes. Well, so could he - sort of - and make light of it at the same time.

He turned and looked her in the eyes. "Yes. She put pressure on me and I rose to the occasion." At Siri's astonished look he added,

"But I put away my lightsaber before I could do any real damage."

Her eyes narrowed.

"Hmm. So, did she - touch - your lightsaber?"

Obi-Wan continued looking at her, unblinking. "Yes, she did. And she got burned for it, too."

Siri face flushed with temper, her eyes flashing. "She will be lucky if she still has arms when this trip is over."

Obi-Wan looked at her a moment, not sure what to say. He brushed his hand lightly against her cheek, then turned and they continued silently to Vyxn's quarters.

They reached her room and Obi-Wan knocked. "Vyxn!" he called. "Open the door!"

TBC