I was going to not publish another chapter for a few days, but then I got the idea to do a Christmas themed chapter, so I wrote this up quick as a gift to you guys- Merry Christmas!

I realize that the SW universe doesn't celebrate Christmas, but here they do. They probably don't have the month 'December' either, but just assume they do, for the purposes of the story.


This time she only stopped running when she slammed into someone and ended up sprawled on the floor. Whoever it was had been carrying an armload of boxes which tumbled to the floor.

"Watch where you're going, would you?" Anakin snapped, recovering the boxes.

"You watch where you're going." She retorted, getting up off the floor.

"You watch your mouth, Padawan." He shot back. "I outrank you here."

Ventress growled under her breath but didn't say anything about it. "What's in all those, anyway?"

"Christmas decorations."

"Christmas decorations?"

"Yeah, you deaf? It's mid-December, and we should have really had these up by now."

"So why didn't we?"

"I was… I wanted to do it now."

"So you were procrastinating?"

"It's possible." Anakin responded. "But I'm not the only one decorating. The others could have got their butts in gear too." Sure enough, as Asajj looked around, she could see other Jedi hanging up garlands and lights all through the hallway.

"I didn't know the Temple celebrated Christmas."

"Of course we do."

"But Christmas is supposed to be a happy time. Jedi aren't supposed to have emotions."

"No, you have it wrong. Jedi aren't supposed to have attatchments or hatred. Happiness is fair game. And Christmas is the most popular holiday around here."

"Would you look at that." Obi-wan had come up from behind them. "Progress."

"Progress?" Ventress asked at the same time as Anakin said "What?"

"Prgoress." He repeated. "You two are on speaking terms." Anakin and Asajj looked at eachother and back at Obi-wan, then simultaneously shrugged.

"I better go put these up, or Mace'll yell at me again." Anakin toed a box.

"And send you to see Torin, I reckon?" Ventress asked.

Anakin snorted. "Yeah. Torin. Haven't seen her in a while. She tried to tell me that I only like Padme because she reminded me of my mom." He picked up the last box of decorations off the floor and set off down the hall. "Anyone else find it ironic that we're decorating the center of the temple into Winter Wonderland?" Skywalker called over his shoulder.

"Fun with irony!" Obi-wan called back.

"Irony?" Asajj questioned.

"The center of the temple is notorious for being drafty and cold."

"I don't get it." She said abruptly.

"It's made of stone, and really old, so it lets all the cold air in."

"No, not the Temple center. Christmas."

"You don't get Christmas?"

"Of course I understand Christmas, like the origins, and why we celebrate it, and the Reason for the season and all, but some of the traditions are just weird. Like garland- what does a prickley plant rope have to do with Christmas?"

"Um… I don't know."

"And lights? In what way do colored lights related to Christmas?"

Obi-wan coughed. "I don't know."

"Trees. Who was it that decided to cut down a tree- a prickley tree mind you- and throw shiny stuff all over it? Snowflake decorations- not every planet has snow in December. In fact, half of Corausant is in the middle of summer! And cookies, what do cookies have to do with Christmas?"

"Woah, slow down my dear. I don't know where they all started. They're just traditions that have come to be associated with Christmas."

Asajj ignored him. "And mistletoe has to be the dumbest one. Oh, a leafy plant, let's all KISS eachother!" She mimicked.

Obi-wan couldn't stop a laugh. "Well, it's easy to see why it's popular here in the Temple. It's the one time of year Jedi are welcome to kiss, with, really, no questions asked about attatchment. So we welcome the opportunity. Everyone needs a little fun now and then, us included."

"Mistletoe is your idea of fun?"

"Not everyone's. But yes, it's a nice excuse to kiss someone. Actually, I believe most of this garland all around us is mistletoe."

"Oh."

There was a moment of awkward silence, and her master's face was suddenly rather red.

"But what does it have to do with Christmas?" She asked, attempting to pull the topic back out of this embarrassing territory.

Kenobi shook his head. "I don't know, darling."

There was more silence.

"Have you ever… um… kissed anyone? Under the mistletoe, I mean?"

He coughed. "Once or twice."

"And here I thought you were innocent, well-behaved Kenobi." She teased.

"You underestimated my charm, my sweet. I've had quite a few women asking me in a not-so-subtle manner for a kiss."

"And you gave them one?" She asked incredulously. It was difficult to picture her master accepting "kiss invitations" from random female Jedi.

"No. I only kiss people who are… precious… to me." Wait... didn't he call me his 'precious Padawan' yesterday? I wonder if he remembers that…

"Doesn't that break the no-attatchment rule?"

"Probably. But it's Christmas." Suddenly his gaze was locked with hers, eyes reflecting the few lights that had already been plugged in. There was no one around; it was just her, Kenobi, and stupid mistletoe.

"Hey Ventress." A male voice spoke from behind her.

"Meep!" she squeaked in a most out of character manner, and lept towards Obi-wan, though she was not sure whether for protection or to keep him safe.

Anakin gave her a weird look. "I was just going to ask if you'd seen the tape, sheesh." The Jedi grumbled as he left the hallway.

"I take it you're still a little jumpy?"

"Yes." She responded, letting go of Kenobi. "Yes. I am a bit jumpy."

"From mistletoe?"

"Erm…"

"What's the worst that'll happen?"

"I dunno."

"Are you afraid of me?"

"No, absolutely not! Why would I be afraid of you?"

"Because I only kiss people who matter to me."

"Oh."

He cleared his throat as though it would clear the awkward sentiment of the conversation from the atmosphere. "How was library work?"

"Let's just say I'm not going back there."

"It's not that awful…"

"Let's just say that I'm in a world of trouble if I do."

"What did you do?"

"Let's just say that there are a lot of books of the floor that should be on the shelves."

To her surprise, Obi-wan laughed. "Ventress, you are quite a unique character." He darted in abruptly and kissed her cheek. "Come on. Let's help Anakin find the tape."

Asajj Ventress: ?
Mistletoe: 1


In a way, I agree with Ventress. I want to know how some of these Christmas traditions have ANYTHING to do with Christmas. Oh, I like them, but I'm a curious sort of person and I wish I knew how they started. Anyway, that's just me.

I hope you liked my Christmas themed chapter!