Well, one review. Won't lie, I am disappointed, but it is the Christmas Holidays and we are all busy. As promised this is the next chapter. My Christmas present to you. To get into the holiday spirit this is a Christmas themed chapter. Sorry for the mush that comes up. Action next time for the dynamic duo Anakin and Ahsoka. I hope you enjoy! :D

To The Brink Recovery: Arms so gentle and kind.

The grey chalk of fog dissipated from her mind as she groggily awoke in an empty bed. With a heavy sigh the woman stretched her arm out slowly, brow furrowing in distaste as the kinks in her arm rippled through her body, as her hand came softly down onto the cold mattress. Withdrawing instantly at the cold touch she rolled onto her back and stared pensively at the ocean ceiling.

Obi-Wan. Poor, troubled Obi-Wan must not have managed to sleep long. Maybe a few mere hours. Sleep was precious for the tortured soul of the Jedi Master who lay with her last night, and she was certain that he had woken with a strangled sob during the dark hours of the night – one she will not have detected – and with a heavy heart had risen from the warmth and solace of the bed and her arms to wander like a lost spirit through the hall ways of this building.

Satine dragged herself from the inviting warmth of her bed and dressed into her brown leather boots, grey leggings, cream-coloured shirt and burgundy waist coat after showering, choosing to leave her hair slightly damp and let it fold its self into beautiful ringlets that cascaded down to her back midway before quietly padding out of her bedroom in her search for the man she comforted through the long hours of the night.

Surprisingly it didn't take long for the young duchess to locate him. Her cerulean eyes locked onto him once she found him. There he was – her knight in shining armour – leaning his left shoulder against the wall of the gardens, arms folded over his perfectly chiselled torso, and left leg crossed in front of the right, the trip of his boot resting against the grass.

He surely must have sensed her concern when she began searching for him and must have felt her glowing presence now try to touch his own, yet he didn't respond at all. He just remained standing, his storm grey eyes gazing off into the distance. A small robin flew near him and landed on his shoulder, tiny fork feet padding up and down along as it rotated its small body around and tilted its tiny head sharply, black beady eyes studying what it had landed on.

Yet it was gone almost as quickly as it came for it squawked and hurriedly took flight away from Obi-Wan as he bristled with agitation, shooing it with a quick yet gentle Force push.

He remained completely oblivious to her presence as she slowly approached and stood by him. Her shoulder, only just beneath the height of his own, was in close proximity to his, and she could hear his breathing. In… and out. In… and out. Again and again.

"Couldn't sleep." He started shortly in the quietest voice she had ever heard him speak in.

She didn't see a need to reply and instead settled him a stare with her glowing eyes, inviting him to continue.

"The gardens have always offered solace to me when I am troubled." He dragged in a deep breath, held it, and then blew it out slowly. "Being in tune with all things living here normally offers me comfort, yet this time it seems to only add to my turmoil."

With an understanding nod, she gently enveloped his hand in hers. "Come with me." She offered softly and he trembled at the soft tone of her voice, the comfort he felt from her caressing his tortured and beaten soul, trying to heal the wounds that he had inflicted on himself in a bout of impatience, fear and rage. "There's something I want to show you."

Allowing her to lead him through the exotic garden of rose bushes that held blue petals and so on; he let the lids slide shut over his weary eyes, one hand absently rising to brush at them. Lack of sleep had left him feeling like one of the living dead. Purple lines had formed under his red-rimmed eyes.

He felt her body heat close in on his signalling him that she had stopped and they had arrived at their destination.

Her voice was like a kiss from the wind next to his ear. "Open your eyes."

He did as commanded and the sight before him held him still – made him swear that he felt his heart stop for a fraction of a second altogether. He was in a small cave, the mouth at the far end allowing golden tendrils of sunlight to bleed in; green tendril vines running along a quarter of the walls surface he stood by with Satine. His ears pricked detecting the roaring water that rushed down to meet the small pool behind him, the liquid casting a silver glow and chasing black silhouettes of the sloshing water across the wall. The sight made him smile, made tears prick the back of his eyes, and he felt his heart choke his throat.

"Well, I guess it's more a matter of 'someplace' rather than 'something'," Satine smirked, right hand planted on her hip.

"It's… it's beautiful," he gasped turning to gaze at her tenderly.

Force, sweet Satine: determined and stubborn – like your average politician – but also gentle and compassionate. On one hand he found it comical how he fell so irrevocably in love with a politician when he despised them, yet on the other hand it was her sweet compassion that had drawn him to her like a moth to a flame. Now she was smiling warmly at her, her smile making her look more radiant than he had ever seen and he found her, at this moment, an angel. The most beautiful thing he had ever seen in his life.

A small rustling above their heads caught their attention as they both peered up towards the cave ceiling to see that the vines had stretched across the rocky surface and had stopped directly above them. Obi-Wan's eyes widened as the plant then grew down towards them, reaching out. It twisted around and over its self, sprouting small white buds sporadically on it. Swallowing a lump that had suddenly lodged in his throat he slowly looked down to Satine who gazed up at him in astonishment.

"They're reacting to you!"

Smiling ruefully, he replied, "It appears so. I feel the Force much more here than I did outside of this cave."

They both looked up at the plant above them, and both recognised it: mistletoe.

Drawing his attention to her he heard Satine whisper, "After everything that has happened recently I forgot it was nearly Christmas."

"Me too."

Satine stepped closer to him, their bodies now touching. Obi-Wan felt her warmth through their clothes and it made him tremble inside. Raising a trembling hand he cupped her left cheek tenderly and felt her respond by placing her own hand gently on top of his as she leaned into it. Just as slowly he raised his other hand and slipped it into her golden locks as his lips grazed hers tenderly. Their lips hovered inches apart and Satine looked at him to ask if it was ok. He nodded and she dove in first, letting her eyes slide shut as she pressed her full, soft lips against his fully. He gasped at the jolt of electricity that ran through him once again every time he was in close contact with her, and she smiled against his lips as she felt him tremble against her. He let out a small chuckle as he felt her need to be close to him increase in intensity, for her free hand soon wrapped around the back of his neck, her fingers playing with the tips of his hair. Soon the kiss deepened as he slipped his hand out of her hair before tracing her back as he pulled her impossibly close to himself, his hand stopping at the small of her back.

He felt the Force's approval of their actions, yet he remained wary of taking further action, unlike Satine who seemed happy to comply. With difficulty and regret that instantly ran cold through his veins, he pulled away, hating the feeling of desire that chastised him from tearing away from her grasp and demanded that he kiss her again. He was shocked to realise how much force he put into the kiss as it intensified as he stared at Satine's bruised lips and flushed cheeks. Swallowing heavily he said shakily: "I'm not ready to take such a bold leap forwards, Satine."

He sensed her disappointment but was relieved for her understanding as she offered him a tiny smile and nodded.

"Thank you for this, Satine." His eyes swam with pure love and gratitude.

She nodded once more before leaning slowly up and kissing him lightly on the lips again. He wished she had held it longer as she pulled away. He forced the image of himself pulling her back to him and ghosting his lips along her slender neck out of his head. He forced to control his body as his breathing increased ever so slightly and his stomach quivered in small spasmodic movements.

"Merry Christmas, Obi," she whispered before turning on her heel and walking slowly back towards the mouth of the cave, somewhat wishing that he would follow her.

With a pang in his heart he watched her leave. He felt the disappointment in the Force about him pulling away ripple around him. If he was going to get past this he had to realise that she was not fragile. He didn't approve of how this had to be done but if it was the Force's will and he loved her enough then he would follow the Force, his heart and Qui-Gon.

Hope it was an acceptable or better present! Merry Christmas everyone, and have a healthy and happy 2013! :D