Chapter Eighteen: That's the Way

Everything had changed; Obi-Wan realized it early the next morning when Kalinda sought him out, reaching for him through the Force as she had done when they were younger. The sensation startled him so much that he nearly dropped the cup of tea he'd been preparing. Meet me in the garden? Her tone was tentative but bright with happiness and he smiled despite the fact that he figured he was not the reason for the feeling.

Certainly.

The pulse of her life shone like a beacon and he found that he was drawn to it as he made his way to the palace gardens, noting the variegated blooms that seemed to have sprung up overnight; the area was overwhelmed with flowers of every shape and size, the air was thick with their scent.

Kali was studying the statue at the garden's entrance, though at his approach she turned and grinned as she hurried to meet him. She was dressed in the same clothes as she had worn the day before and her eyes still held something he did not recognize. As he opened his mouth to voice the countless questions that she had sparked, she shook her head and took his hand, leading him to the interior of the garden and only pausing to take a seat beneath a sturdy tree.

It was here that she explained what had happened after she'd entered the temple.

"A remarkable vision," he said once she had finished speaking.

"If by 'remarkable' you mean terrifying, then yes, it was." For a moment they shared a laugh until she quieted and studied her hands which lay folded in her lap. "But it was necessary."

His head tilted as he looked at her. "Why?"

Kali took a deep breath. "Because I had to understand that I've been caught in a cycle of my own making, one of loss and regret. Until now, I..." she faltered here and continued to look at her hands, frowning in thought. "I blamed you. Even though it was ultimately my own choices that lead me to those feelings, I blamed you for the pain I felt. I shouldn't have...I see that now." At last she met his gaze. "Obi-Wan, everything else aside, you've always been a true friend and I want to apologize."

"Kali, you don't have to-"

She shook her head. "I do. After Basrah I was hurt, but I dealt with it by closing you out of my mind – out of my life – though it was wrong. And when we came here, all of these old memories resurfaced and I became so wrapped up in my own feelings that I lost sight of what mattered."

Obi-Wan was silent, turning her words over in his mind. At last he looked at her; the sun was filtering down through the leaves, dappling her face with chiaroscuro. She is my oldest and dearest friend and she seems happier than I've seen her in a long time. The thought filled him with warmth so he nodded and gave her a smile. "Then I'm glad you went to that temple, though I was...concerned."

She chuckled. "Me too." After a moment she met his eyes again. "But there's more."

"Of that I have no doubt. Nothing is ever simple with you." At her look he gave a wry grin. "I mean that in a good way, of course."

"Right," she said, casting her eyes to the sky and leaning back on her hands. There was a pause while she collected her thoughts before she looked back at him. "Do you remember what I said to you, a long time ago?" At his look of mild frustration she clarified. "About love and the Force being one and the same?"

"I do...though I must confess, I never really understood it. I still don't."

She nodded. "I'm only just starting to. You see..." A hand lifted and grasped his as she leaned forward; Obi-Wan's eyes widened at the sensation that thrummed between them.

"The Force..." he breathed, his gaze on their joined fingers. "It's strong...stronger than I've ever felt from you before."

Again she nodded, though her hand remained entwined in his. "I don't know if it will last, but the lesson has been learned; it only took me losing the Force altogether to figure out the connection."

Obi-Wan knitted his brows. "So, if you're not in love with someone...?"

"Then I can't use the Force?" She shook her head. "No, that's not quite it. I think it has more to do with allowing myself to love, to experience the feeling to the fullest, though I'm not sure why it affects me this way and no one else – that I know of."

"I've certainly never heard of such a thing."

But Kali's eyes were distant, fixed on some place he could not see as she replied. "Like I said...I'm still not certain I understand it entirely. If anything, more questions have been raised. But I do know that I was afraid, Obi-Wan. After our first mission here I realized – really understood – that you couldn't be what I wanted you to be...but I couldn't change how I felt about you and it terrified me." Here she frowned and looked at him again. "Hindsight can be a real pain in the shebs sometimes."

Despite himself, Obi-Wan smiled at her use of the Mandalorian word. After a moment he took a deep breath and raised his eyes to hers. "I did love you, Kali. I wish I had said it...before."

"I know." She placed her other hand on his knee while keeping their hands joined and allowing him to feel the Force energy that flowed from her, brushing away the vestiges of weariness and fatigue that clung to the edges of his thoughts. "But it wasn't enough for me just to know, Obi-Wan. I wanted – I want – more than that. I want something that you just can't give me and I needed to apologize for being angry with you, because it wasn't your fault." There was silence for a few moments.

When she spoke again, her words were deliberate. "You should know that I love Stonewall – more than I ever imagined was possible – but a part of me will always care for you, Obi-Wan. If this mission has taught me anything, it's that it doesn't have to be all or nothing between us. There is a middle ground." Here she raised a brow at him. "Who's the Negotiator, now?"

In that moment he was reminded of the young girl he'd fallen in love with many years ago, though it passed as he realized that she – like him – had grown and matured beyond the feeling. A part of me will always see her like that. Perhaps it's a good thing to have such a strong link to my past, to our past. Some bonds were never meant to be broken; they simply change as time progresses. "It was...hard," he admitted, looking at their hands. "To lose our connection. I'd forgotten how much it meant to me to know that you were there." At these words her eyes met his and he could still feel the Force trickling through their skin. It was reassuring. It filled him with strength.

They sat in silence for a few minutes before he cleared his throat. "How is Stonewall?"

"That's the other thing I needed to talk to you about," she said. Their hands lifted and she placed hers on her folded knees. "But I think it's more of a 'Master Kenobi' talk than a 'Ben' talk. You remember the reason we left in such a hurry the last time we were here, right?"

He grimaced at the memory as she continued. "The ceremony," she said, her voice soft. "Stonewall and I." She met his startled gaze with calm assurance. "It's done."

Obi-Wan took a deep breath but did not speak for several minutes. "Why?"

"Don't make me say all that again, Kenobi."

"No," he said, shaking his head. "Why did you tell me?"

Her face tilted as she answered him. "Because how I feel about him is a part of me and I'm not going to hide from it. I'm still a Jedi, Obi-Wan, but I can't deny everything that I've experienced."

A quiet breeze lifted the edges of his hair and he sighed. "And what does the Captain have to say about all of this?" She took another breath and he leaned forward. "There's more, isn't there?"

"You felt the Force from me, didn't you?" He nodded and she lifted her shoulders in a shrug. "So did Stone."

This made Obi-Wan pause. "He...felt the Force? You're sure?"

"Yes." She gave him an almost guilty smile. "Never simple with me, remember?" He cast her a look and she elaborated. "We haven't had time to properly test it so it may just be temporary...but Stonewall was able to use the Force, Obi-Wan. As surely as you or I ever have." She met his eyes. "I don't know why or to what extent yet, so don't ask, but I am – that is, we are – going to figure it out."

"And you expect me to tell all of this to Master Yoda and the others when I return to the Temple?"

Here she paused and he could see that she was choosing her words with care. "I expect you to do what you feel is best," she said at last. "I meant what I said about not hiding anything, but I would appreciate it if you left the matter up to my discretion. I'd like to know more about Stone's interaction with the Force before I go to the Council." She sat up and gave him a wry look that he knew well. "How much of a stir do you think it will cause?"

Obi-Wan ran a hand through his beard before he replied. "Honestly? I have no idea. There's no precedence for such a thing as you've described, though I agree that you should have a better idea of what exactly is going on before you approach them." On a whim he grinned at her. "It's a good thing you have a friend on the Council, isn't it?"

Her answering smile was wide. "It most certainly is."

They talked for a while longer before they rose to leave. "So, what happens now? Please tell me we're staying for the festival..." She gave him a look. "You still owe me, you know."

Chuckling, Obi-Wan shook his head. "Plo Koon's fleet is nearby...I was planning on rendezvousing with him this morning and returning to Coruscant. However – given recent developments – I think that you and your men should remain here for the time being, to ensure that things proceed smoothly. After all, everything has changed, hasn't it?" He smiled at the look of joy that flashed in her eyes. "You're welcome."

She paused when they reached the entrance to the garden. "One last thing...can I give you some friendly advice?" Without waiting for his agreement she pressed on. "You shouldn't hold yourself back any more, Obi-Wan...trust me, it's not worth it. You deserve every bit of joy you can scrape together. Don't forget that, okay? And for the love of all that's holy, take some leave. You deserve a break."

At this he raised his brow, though he made no reply.

When the reached Sita's study he paused and looked at her. "What is it?" she asked.

"He'd better make you happy," Obi-Wan replied with a sigh.

Kalinda smiled again. "It's not really up to him, is it?" With that, she leaned forward and kissed his cheek once before stepping over the threshold.

After she left, Obi-Wan returned to his room and contacted Master Plo to let him know that it would only be himself that the fleet would be collecting. As the Kel Dor Jedi was about to sign off, Obi-Wan cleared his throat. "Could you route a transmission for me, please?"

"Certainly. To where?"

Obi-Wan paused and felt a small smile cross his face. "To Mandalore. I have something to discuss with the Duchess." The Jedi answered in the affirmative and Obi-Wan smoothed his features as he waited for the transmission to go through. Finally the image of Satine appeared before him, her expression was startled, though she hid it well with the edge of humor in her voice.

"To what do I owe the pleasure, Master Kenobi?"

"I wanted to thank you for your advice, Duchess. I'm not sure if the news from Aruna has disseminated throughout the rest of the Republic, but in any case, it was in part due to your information that we were able to solve the regent's problems." At her look of utter bewilderment he leaned forward. "I'm sorry. Our communications haven't been the most reliable lately...would it be possible for us to meet in person so that I can better explain things?" It was a tenuous excuse, but that was what he intended; he made an effort to keep his tone neutral, just to see her reaction if nothing else.

For a fraction of a second her eyes widened, though her features were schooled in a visage of calm. "I suppose that can be arranged. There's actually a bit of business that I need to take care of on Coruscant. When would you like to meet?"

"As soon as possible, if it works for you."

The mask of composure fell away as she laughed. "Very well. Three days?"

"I look forward to it." On impulse he gave her a broad smile. I realize that nothing may come of this, but I would like to at least look into the...possibility. It will be nice to spend some time in her company, if nothing else.

As Satine was about to sign off she looked at him, her head tilting in thought. "You seem different."

"What do you mean?" Obi-Wan couldn't keep the puzzlement from his voice.

"Refreshed," she said. A small frown crossed her face. "The last time we spoke you looked drained and tired. But now..." She raised her brow. "I can see that Aruna has done you a bit of good, though it could simply be the hologram playing tricks on me."

Obi-Wan's answering laughter was bright. "I suppose you'll just have to wait and see for yourself, won't you?"

Sita looked up as Kalinda entered her room after the Jedi parted ways. "At last. I was wondering when you would have time for me, my friend." The queen's tone was solemn, but her face was alight with a smile as she met Kali in an embrace. Moments later they were seated on several of the wide pillows that were scattered about and Kalinda recounted her experience in Chamunda's temple. In her mind's eye, she could still see the demon creature lunging for her and a shiver passed over her skin even as she spoke.

When she finished the tale, the younger woman sat in silence for a time, absorbing the words. Finally she nodded, her expression thoughtful. "You had a true vision, then. I thought that only the priests and priestesses experienced such things."

"Perhaps the gods are not a fickle as the others would have you believe," Kali replied, thinking of the blind priestess.

The young queen regarded her for a moment. "Besides Obi-Wan and Captain Stonewall, you saw your father? I thought that the Jedi were not allowed to have children."

Kali frowned and toyed with the edges of her dress before she answered. "It's only allowed in a few rare circumstances and my birth was...unexpected. It's a long story for another time," she added at Sita's look of confusion. "But I think that seeing Jonas was necessary to make me realize that I needed to let go of my fear of loss."

"What do you mean?"

"My father was killed when I was very young and I never really was able to move past the grief I felt," she explained. "And the next man that I loved – in a different way, of course – didn't feel as I did, so, in another fashion I lost him, too. With Stonewall..." She trailed off and gave a sigh. "Until he came around, it felt like love had only brought me pain and sorrow, so it was difficult to allow myself to trust the feeling."

It had grown difficult to speak, so she took a deep breath and studied her hands. There was a jingling of gold bangles as the younger woman touched Kali's shoulder, offering her a measure of comfort. Finally Kali sighed and looked back up. "The meaning was clear enough once I thought about it, though I wish it had not been so...harrowing."

"Such is the nature of such things, Kali. From what you've told me it seems like you were trapped in a prison of your own making. We both were, I suppose. I never thought I would have the strength to stand against Neerja, but thanks to you, Obi-Wan and your men I managed. Another debt I owe you." The queen gave her a tenuous smile.

"You owe me nothing, Sita." Kali replied and both women were silent for several minutes. A scarf had fallen to the floor nearby and Kalinda picked it up, turning the fabric over in her hands as she admired the intricate design and the softness of silk against her skin. "This is very pretty," she said, laying the scarf against her arm, studying the colors in the morning light that was streaming through the window. It was woven with shots of purple and blue and embroidered with intricate silver vines and flowers.

"Take it." The Arunai woman's eyes lifted. "As a souvenir of your time here."

Kali shook her head and laid the scarf atop a nearby pillow. "Trust me, Sita; I'll have plenty to remember this mission by." The thought of Stonewall made heat bloom through her cheeks, as if she was still seated with him before the flickering bonfire of the previous night and she felt a wide grin spread across her face.

"You love him, don't you?" Kali nodded; Sita smiled and sat back on her heels, giving a satisfied sigh. "Good. You deserve to be happy. Everyone does, even if it is fleeting." Her tone grew wistful and she cast a look out the window for a moment before glancing back at the Jedi. "I humbly ask that you take the scarf, Kalinda. Not for yourself," she added as Kali opened her mouth to object. "But for your beloved. Has it never occurred to you that he might want to see you in something other than those dull robes you usually wear?"

Her brow lifted and Kali had to laugh at the implication in the younger woman's tone. She sighed and picked up the scarf, draping it around her neck. "As you wish, your highness." It is pretty, I suppose. Stone will probably like it. A few more minutes passed in companionable silence before Kalinda glanced at her. "I heard about your rescue."

Sita nodded and sat up, her voice taking on a more formal lilt. "Your soldiers were heroic, to say the least. I owe them my life." She paused and Kali could sense that her thoughts had drifted to one of the clones in particular. "I was wrong to judge them as I did. They are good men."

Kali smiled to herself. "In my opinion, there are none better."

It was not until late afternoon when Kali and Stone were able to find some time to be together in her quarters; for a while they lay next to each other on the bed and watched the silken curtains lift with the breeze as the sun's descent gilded the entire room. Kalinda was nestled in the crook of his arm, listening to his heartbeat when he chuckled and kissed her forehead.

"What is it?" She pressed her lips to his chest before she glanced up at him.

"I was just thinking about the vision you told me about," he replied. At her look his eyebrows lifted. "You don't give me enough credit; if I had really been facing a demon – or whatever it was – I'd at least have pulled out a grenade or two. Flash-bang it to the ground, you know?" As he spoke he ran his fingertips along her arms, watching as the hairs on her skin lifted under his touch.

She sighed. "It was a dream, Stone, a representation of my fear. It came from the depths of my subconscious...of courseyou'd be able to fight a demon in real life. Not that I hope to ever run into one..."

"But you had the right idea with the sword," he went on as if she had not spoken. "Very smart, using its own weapon against it. That's thinking like a proper warrior." The pride in his voice made her smile.

"Next time I have a traumatic, life-altering vision, I'll be sure to keep that in mind." She was too relaxed to inject much sarcasm in her tone, especially when his honey-brown eyes met hers just before he bent his head to kiss her.

Neither one spoke for several minutes before he cleared his throat. "I suppose we'll have to leave this room at some point."

"Maybe in a little bit. We're busy right now." She leaned forward to reach for the silk scarf that Sita had given her, draping it around her neck before she sat up and gave him an inquiring look.

Stone's voice was wry as he watched her movements. "Are we? It seems to me like we're just laying here."

"Hmm. Give us about thirty seconds." Kali smiled and flicked the length of silk in his direction.

Stonewall laughed and reached for the ends of the scarf, gently pulling her closer to him. "Make it fifteen."

In the kiss that followed there was only a ringing truth that had begun as an ember and grown to a blaze; it was not a promise nor a pledge, but for the first time in her memory it was so much more than enough.

A bit more exposition here; I tried to make everything as clear as I could, but some questions don't have simple answers. There is another story in the works after this that may resolve more of them. In any case, I really appreciate everyone who has stuck with me on this journey! After this there is an epilogue and an "interlude," for lack of a better word. Enjoy!

(FYI: The title for this chapter comes from the Led Zeppelin song of the same name.)

So...who's up for a festival? ;-)