"Well, finally!"

Obi-Wan felt a huge sigh leave his chest as Ventress emerged from the bacta tank in the Jedi Temple, seemingly like her usual, crabby self. She was fine if she could snap at them like she did. Obi-Wan knew, however, that her snappish nature was only to cover up her nervousness. She was looking forward to going out with Obi-Wan, but she wasn't exactly enthusiastic about the whole Jedi-are-forbidden thing. It made her nervous to have to hide everything. Ventress, upon exiting the tank, immediately reached for her clothes, which someone had taken the time to wash and leave next to the tank. Ventress went to remove the white medical gown, and then glanced at Obi-Wan.

"Do you mind?!"

Obi-Wan's smirk only increased in size. "Oh, no, by all means, go ahead," he said slyly, looking Ventress up and down. "It's not like you mind, anyway."

Ventress gave a horrified squeak, and then half-groaned, half-screamed in frustration. "You wanna play it that way, fine," she said, acting as disgusted as possible. Meanwhile, Shaak Ti watched from the doorway, a crooked smile fixed on her rose-colored lips. She leaned against the doorway, weight in one hip, one leg crossed over the other, arms folded across her chest, and with her back against the doorframe.

"You two have an interesting relationship," she observed, watching Ventress erect a meager changing screen out of the bacta tank and the curtain around it. She ducked behind the tank, out of sight of both Jedi, and began changing her clothes. "The entire time I was healing her, she seemed so pissed off. And you could see it in her eyes, she was ticked. But with you…she's so compliant, she totally trusts you. I mean, yeah, she cooperated, but she didn't trust me. And she didn't really want me near her." Shaak Ti shook her head. "What is that all about?"

Obi-Wan shrugged. "Like you said before, she trusts me," he said simply. "Now more than ever, since I was the one who found her."

Shaak Ti's black eyes slid closed, and she nodded slowly. "I guess," she said, "it makes sense. She trusted you before, that whole incident pretty much cemented it."

Obi-Wan nodded in return, and Ventress emerged from behind the bacta tank. "Alright, I'm done," she said. "Thanks for leaving." The dry humor and irritation in her voice sent Obi-Wan laughing, and Ventress gave him a withering glare. "Anyway," she said slowly, still glaring at Obi-Wan, "I'm done. Now what?" She straightened out her stomach wraps, pulling them down a bit more towards her long, sweeping skirt. She brushed off the skirt, knocking it back into place around her legs.

"I guess she should go before the Council," Shaak Ti sighed. "Hate to do this to you so soon. Both of you."

Ventress glanced at Obi-Wan. "You're speaking, as well?" she asked. Obi-Wan nodded.

"Everyone who was at that battle needs to brief the rest of the Council needs to speak, technically. But, I have word that the rest of the Council has already been briefed by those who were at the battle, and all that remains is my two cents. In other words, everything they missed."

Ventress groaned slightly. "So I have to tell them everything," she muttered. "Happy birthday to me."

Shaak Ti glanced at Ventress. "It's your birthday?"

"I think so…"

"You think?" One orange forehead marking rose in skepticism.

"I'm not good with converting the days between planets…but this about that time, yeah."

Obi-Wan shrugged. "I'll take you for lunch when we're done here," he said. "Master Ti, would that be alright?"

Shaak Ti glanced between the Rattataki and the human. "Like, what, a date?" she asked. Obi-Wan could hear in her voice pleading for them to laugh, and to tell her it was just some joke.

"Oh, no," Obi-Wan said. "Just…as a friend."

Shaak Ti shrugged. "I'll take your word for it. Go with my blessing."

Obi-Wan smiled slightly in thanks, and Shaak Ti pushed off the door frame. "Let's go," she said. "You two go have fun with each other. Eat lunch, walk around a little, I'll let you know when the Council's about to get together. That way, you can get back in time. Keep your com on, any Jedi channel. I'll find it."

Obi-Wan nodded. "Will do," he said, smiling. "Thank you, Master Ti. We'll be back in about an hour. We're just going to Dex's for lunch."

"Okay," Shaak Ti said. "Have fun."

Obi-Wan nodded, and Shaak Ti left the room. Ventress glanced at him out of the corner of her eye, and a soft light came into the icy orbs. Any surveillance in here?

Thankfully, no.

Obi-Wan turned to Ventress, and kissed her.

She melted into his arms, finally able to touch him again without fear of being found out. He wrapped his arms around her and drew her close, holding her so close she could hear his heart. Her own heart leapt into her throat, and then simply stopped beating. Ventress could swear he was a drug: and damn, was she addicted! For a moment, there was nothing but the soft pull of his embrace, and the soft pressure of his lips against hers. The entire world seemed to fade away, unimportant and not of any use at the moment. What good were the senses, anyway, if the world did not exist? Ventress's world narrowed to that one moment in time as they shared their first real, actual kiss, and she could swear she was flying.

Then, all too soon, it was over.

Ventress was left gasping for air, panting hard to get her breath back. Obi-Wan seemed like he was in shock: his gray eyes had frozen into carbon, and he stared at her like he was looking at someone completely different.

"Thanks," Ventress finally whispered, the awkwardness of the situation finally setting in.

"Um, yeah, you…you too," Obi-Wan tried, letting go of her shoulders and stepping back. "I'm just gonna run up to my room and get some cash…"

"Yeah, I, uh…I gotta use the bathroom anyway…"

"I'll meet you back down here…"

"I'm not going anywhere."

"We've got surveillance outside anyway…"

"You don't trust me?"

Obi-Wan seemed to suddenly regain his composure. "I like you dangerous."

Ventress's face flushed until her skin almost looked human. She ducked her head, smiling, and waited until Obi-Wan was gone to reached out and grab the side of the bacta tank for support. Several audible gasps echoed throughout the room, finally ending in a long, contented sigh. Ventress couldn't understand why everything he said just had that effect on her, but, hey, what was love without that knock-you-right-over feeling?

He had floored her with that kiss, anyway.

OOOOOOOOOO

Ventress was laughing.

Obi-Wan had never seen it before, but apparently his witty comments about his and Dex's long-time friendship were enough to send both aliens into convulsions. Dex, or Dexter Jettser, was a walking wall of brown, slimy flesh, with four meaty arms, two hulking legs, and a plump stomach to round it all off. His broad mouth was lined with sharp, pointed teeth, and when he laughed, his entire body shook. He had a deep voice that perfectly matched his portly appearance, and he looked like a throwback to the dinosaurs of ancient earth. The huge Besalisk had sat down with Obi-Wan when he had said that he was eating with "a friend." Then, he found out the friend was female. And of course, Dex, being Dex, saw it fit to tease Obi-Wan about the friendship. Ventress, under the circumstances, had dealt with it extremely well, never once pulling a punch and simply throwing everything back in Dex's face. Dex finally gave up, and now, the three were laughing over dessert.

"I remember this one guy," Dex said, "who walked into the bar I used to have and asked me to identify what he thought was a saberdart. I took one look at it-you'll never guess what it was."

Obi-Wan raised an eyebrow. "Do I want to hear the answer?" he asked.

"It was a wishbone from the bird he had for lunch two days ago!"

Obi-Wan laughed slightly, shaking his head. "I love the galaxy," he said. "Everyone in it who is capable of speech seems more capable of humiliating themselves because of it."

"Oh, I agree," Ventress said, sipping at her drink. "I could swear sometimes that my vornskrs are more intelligent than half the people I know."

"You keep vornskrs?" Dex asked, lowering his voice. Ventress nodded. "Well, I'll be damned," Dex said, leaning back and slapping his thigh. "Little lady's got a vicious streak!"

Ventress merely smiled, and glanced at Obi-Wan. The Jedi master caught her gaze, and smiled in return. "You wouldn't believe it," he said slowly, shaking his head again. "You don't watch the news do you?"

Dex shrugged. "Ah, she was with you. Figured that was good enough."

Ventress sighed. "Ah, if only it were that simple…"

Dex placed two of his hands on the table, and then other two on his thighs. He pushed himself to his feet, sliding out of the booth and standing up. "Well, if the two of you are okay…"

"I think we're done," Obi-Wan said. "Ventress?"

"I'm good," she said, sliding out of the booth as well. Obi-Wan handed Dex the money for the meal, and then stood up, as well. Dex shook his head.

"Don't worry about it," he said. "It's on the house."

Obi-Wan shook his head. "No, this time I will pay you," he said. "I insist."

"As do I."

Ventress reached over and grabbed the money from Dex. She split it into two equal parts, and handed one to each person. "Everyone happy?"

Dex glanced at her, and then shrugged. "I'll take it," he said. "I know you'll be stubborn about this, so I might as well meet you halfway."

Obi-Wan smiled. "Good to see you again, Dex," he said, sliding the money he had left back into his pocket. He gave the broad alien a hug good-bye, and Dex enthusiastically returned the gesture.

"Good to see you, too. Come back soon, eh? And bring your girlfriend."

Ventress laughed, and gently smacked Dex on the arm. "You're funny," she said sarcastically. "You're hysterical." Dex reached over and grabbed her, pulling her in a huge bear-hug.

"None of that, little lady," he admonished. "Get this lazy Jedi back here, ya hear?" he set Ventress down, and the woman carefully straightened her clothes.

"Only if you don't pick me up again."

Dex grunted. "Deal," he said. "Take care, you two."

Obi-Wan gave him a smile, and then he and Ventress exited the small diner Dex owned. "Well, that was nice," he said. "Dex and I have been friends for a while. I don't get to see him much."

"Seems like an okay guy," Ventress said, nodding. "Good cook, too."

"He's about as good as they come," Obi-Wan agreed, walking back to the Temple. Ventress drew several hateful stares, but no one questioned her presence. Standing next to her was a Jedi: and not just any Jedi. The famous General Kenobi, the Negotiator. No one was messing with him. "Nice guy, too."

Ventress nodded slowly. She longed to reach over and take his hand. She longed to walk down the street not as Jedi and Sith, not as friend and foe, not even as friend and friend, but she wanted to walk down the street as a couple. She longed to have his arm around her, leaning on him, and to leave behind the world itself. She longed to forget the entire galaxy as it was-to escape the hate-filled stares, the disgusted glances, the terrified, yet angry, looks. Life just wasn't fair, was it? Ventress sighed softly, turning her face up to the filtered Coruscant sun. This needed to last forever…she wanted to walk with him for as long as possible before-

"We're here."

They had reached the Temple.

Ventress sighed softly, but said nothing as she approached the Temple with Obi-Wan. She had to face this, she knew. She couldn't just ignore it for as long as she had. This was something she needed to own up to. She had to account for everything she had done, and just hope that the Jedi Council was feeling merciful today. She mounted the tall steps to the Temple with Obi-Wan at her side. She remembered reaching the top…and then, everything passed in a numb fog. She was aware of her feet carrying her wherever Obi-Wan led her, silently following a step behind him as they walked. In front of her, Jedi parted like the Red Sea for Moses. Most looked disgusted; others looked scornful. There was some fear sprinkled in and around the Jedi there: the occasional person who knew she was more powerful than they, and could kill them instantly. Hundreds of species left their saliva at her feet as they turned and walked away, snarling and feeling anger no Jedi ever should. Ventress felt shame creep across her face; she slowly lowered her gaze, almost afraid to meet their hate-filled eyes.

"Lift your head," Obi-Wan said softly. "You have done nothing wrong."

Ventress thought this over for a moment, and then realized he was right. Stupid Jedi: why were they always right? Especially this one. Had he ever been wrong in his entire life?!

Mace Windu met them outside the Council room. Obi-Wan stopped, Ventress at his side. Mace could tell Ventress was nervous, but said nothing in regards to it. In fact, he didn't even say anything to her. He addressed Obi-Wan instead. "If it's alright with you, the Council would like to speak with her alone first," Mace said. "We would appreciate it if you would remain here while we spoke with her."

Obi-Wan glanced at Ventress. She met his concerned gaze with a worried, scared one, and Obi-Wan thought she might just refuse. "Are you okay?" he mouthed to her. Ventress averted her gaze, taking a sudden interest in her feet. Her sharp teeth punched into her lower lip, leaving angry red marks. Then, she slowly nodded. Obi-Wan offered her a small smile, and gently patted her shoulder.

"It'll be fine," he whispered. "Don't be afraid."

Ventress nodded slowly, and Mace turned and led her into the Council room. The doors slid shut behind them, and Obi-Wan was left standing in the middle of the hallway, feeling totally stranded.

A/N: Well, reviews would be nice…