A/N: A bit mature this chapter, please be warned.

DG

Chapter 20: Our Night

He awoke before the dawn.

Jas sat up with a start, his heart pounding in his ears.

For a few brief seconds, confusion reigned.

What was that, he wondered, willing his breathing to slow.

He had…seen something.

The vision had been clouded in shadows, but it had been strong, even now it tried to slip away from him, hide from him, but he wouldn't let it.

He would remember.

He took a deep and cleansing breath.

I NEED to remember.

He had had a vision of a throne, and sitting upon it, something terrible. A shadow that had taken everything he had desired, everything he had sworn to protect.

That shadow, the same faceless horror he had seen before, it was drawing closer, even now he could sense its pleasure, a cruel glee that could only be found in the darkness, only found in hurting others. The shadow had been more than happy to inflict pain, seize all it desired, and it hadn't been alone.

He tried to remember the faces he had seen, but they to slipped away, far too quickly. He remembered a scruffy looking soldier, an insolent unkept rogue, in a uniform far too big to have been his own. He remembered a strange woman, her face was…like water, it seemed to flow with every breath she took. He had seen a monster as well, hiding behind the throne, its huge wings flexing with barely contained fury, and a desire for destruction, but the worst…that had been the shadow.

He couldn't see the face, as always, it was hidden from him. All he could see was a mirrored face plate, no eyes, no mouth, no features revealed themselves, but that didn't mean that he could not feel the intentions of the one that sat on that throne. It hungered for all that he cared about, it wanted only to destroy it, and make him watch as it did. That shadow was evil incarnate, it was insane. It was…

"Mmmm."

Jas looked down and to his right. Vessaria still lay next to him, resting on her stomach, the blanket that she had brought spread out beneath them.

Jas took another cleansing breath, and let it out slowly. The nightmare, the shadow faded.

It is not its time yet, he realized, the Force had offered him a warning last night. Something that may yet come to pass.

Something that I will have to protect Vess from, he realized, something that I may have to face…one day.

He made himself a promise in that moment, whatever happened, he would be ready.

The shadow would not find him easy prey, he would defend what he loved…

…No matter the cost.

The girl murmured softly to herself; she had not bothered to put anything on before surrendering to sleep; her clothes lay in a pile next to where they had chosen to lay. The act had done little to affect her beauty, if anything, it had been enhanced by it. Her short blonde hair mussed; her pale skin still slick with passion sweat. Her head rested on her arm, the expression on her lovely face was one of sweet satisfaction.

Jas smiled down at her, he couldn't help it.

Vess had been so fierce, she made love like the queen she was. No man would have been able to deny her, not without questioning his sanity for denying himself such an experience.

She…she was so…so…

…amazing.

You were played, you realize that right?

The thought came unbidden, but couldn't be entirely denied.

The blanket, the food, the girl had even brought protection for when you two did the deed. She had laid her trap well, and you fell into it.

He couldn't deny that either, thinking back on the last few hours, it made a strange kind of sense.

You were so worried about hurting her, seducing her to serve your ends, that you never thought about the fact that the girl had plans of her own.

You never thought about the fact that she had come here with a purpose of her own. She had come here…to seduce you.

Plausible, he realized, Vessaria was neither foolish, nor naïve.

Had he been played? Probably, but that didn't change the fact that what he felt now had finally been set loose, he was no longer afraid of his desire for her.

Maybe Vessaria had seduced him, but you know what…?

He chuckled.

…At that moment, he realized that he didn't care. He was perfectly happy accepting what had happened.

Vess had known what she wanted…

…he had no problem giving it to her.

He lay back down, his eyes wandering over her lovely form, the light of the twin moons making her pale skin glow. His finger moved slowly over the curve of her spine, slowly rising to the slight upward curve of her hips.

Vess sighed contentedly, and started to roll over, giving him an even better view of her toned athletic body. He could not deny that his passions stirred at the sight, his heart beat faster, and his skin warming despite the chill of the evening.

What he was feeling right now, the desire…it…it didn't feel like the dark side, this was something else; it felt more primal, a need rather than simply a want.

He found himself thinking back to the first time he had seen her on Alderaan, how he had been drawn to her, before he had discovered who she was.

He had felt like a villain then, that he had objectified her in some way. He hadn't understood. He had still seen her as the little girl he had plucked from Bantoon.

He hadn't accepted yet that the little girl had grown up, and had the desires of a woman, desires that he had not allowed himself to see until this moment.

Val had understood that, she had hoped that he might develop feelings for Vessaria; if he stopped looking at her as the child she had been. Now, after Taris, after she had saved his life and fought beside him, he finally got it.

Vessaria was a woman, and she DID understand what mature love was. If anyone had been blind back then…it had been him.

He knew that…now.

Jas moved closer to her, he kissed her throat and down her shoulder, his hand slid over her right breast, barely touching, teasing her.

She moaned softly in her sleep, her body moving, responding to his touch, he could feel her heart beat quicken, her breathing turning heavier.

"Wake up," he murmured in her ear.

She groaned and arched her lovely back, her hips moving, her body unconsciously seeking out his.

He kissed his way down her ribcage, enjoying the smell of her, and the taste of her skin. It had been so long since he had last been with a woman, years.

He wanted to remember this always. Even if nothing more came of this, even if he and Vess parted, he wanted HER to remember it. Even if she married some princeling, settled down, and had a dozen children, he wanted her to remember this night. A memory to carry forever, until her spirit vanished into the oneness that was the Force.

The Force filled with her passions, blending with his, making the world around them glow, he could feel the heat, yet at the same time, it was…comfortable.

He paused in his gentle hunt, his eyes catching something he had not seen before, a small tattoo on her left ankle, a single green vine covered with blue flowers.

It suited her, he thought, it was cute.

"I thought Aunt Dorma was going to kill me when she saw it."

He glanced up, Vess was awake, smiling at him, her eyes dark with desire, her voice husky.

She reached up and caressed his cheek lovingly.

"My knight," she murmured, "My sweet, brave knight."

He lay back down next to her, staring into her eyes, drowning in them.

It took all his self-control not to simply seize her, to wrap his arms around her and make love to her.

He restrained himself, for the moment, he didn't want to rush this.

They had time for a few words, the anticipation would make the experience that much more…exciting.

He slid closer to her, their bodies nearly touching, he could sense her own desire, but for the moment denied it.

He held back…teasing her.

"Maybe not so brave," he confessed, "I was afraid to acknowledge this. I didn't wish to take advantage of you."

Her smile blossomed.

"You were worried about me, that isn't a failing."

She reached out running her fingers down his bare chest.

Her touch was so light, he could feel the ripples of pleasure going down through his body. Again, he had to contain his own desires.

What once had been asleep, which had fell silent after he had lost Prynne…it was awake again…

…it was awake and hungry.

He took a shuddering breath, trying to contain it.

He wanted her…badly.

Be patient, something within him advised, enjoy this moment.

He sighed, keeping his passions in check.

Vess seemed equally excited, but didn't advance yet, her expression was dreamy, far away.

"I've wanted this…for so long. I had always hoped you would return for me. I used to go to my bed thinking about you. I would wrap myself up in the coat you gave me, imagined that you were holding me, that you had come, and swept me off my feet; took me away to your home and made me yours."

She giggled.

"The romantic dreams of a child, but this child grew up, and found something more, something…real."

He smiled, it was sweet in its way, and confirmed what Val had told him back on Alderaan.

Vessaria had loved him for years.

"Did your aunt know?" he asked, he feared such a question might spoil the mood, but he couldn't help it, he was curious.

Vess' brow furrowed cutely.

"She had her suspicions, I think. She never spoke with me about it. If she thought what I was feeling was wrong, she chose to remain silent. Rather than confront me, she simply pushed me to be out among the other nobles, hoping that I would meet someone.

"And…did you?"

Vess blushed, she worried her lower lip with her teeth.

"I thought I did…once, but…I'm sure you don't want to hear about that."

Jas nodded, he understood her hesitation, but it was really not necessary.

He wanted to know, he wanted to know the woman he was with now.

"You can tell me," He assured her, "I'm not jealous of someone you were with before we met."

She seemed to consider that, again her brow furrowed in thought.

Finally, she sighed.

"Okay, it is not much of a story, just something that happened one summer. Though, it is surprising that you noticed my tattoo."

"Why is that?"

"Because Tion Alde was the reason that I got it. The time we spent together, I…I wouldn't call it dating, we were simply…together. We told no one, we simply spent a few weeks sneaking around, seeing each other whenever we could…

…it was…crazy and exciting. Tattoos were just one of the things we did together.

She held up her leg, letting him get a closer look, letting him see the flowers and vines that encircled her ankle.

"The flowers are called Queen's tears, he sent me a small bouquet of them after our first night together.

Jas said nothing, he merely nodded and motioned for the girl to continue.

Surprisingly, he felt only the small flicker of jealousy. After what they had just shared, he was not so eager to think of anyone else being with Vessaria, but could accept what had happened was in the past.

He had had his lovers too.

Besides, it didn't matter what path she had taken to get here, all that mattered to him, was that they were here together...now.

This Tion Alde had been the girls past, he wanted to be her present, and see if they might just have a future.

"It was about…three years ago," she continued, "I had just turned sixteen, Tion was seventeen, about four months older than I. He was…an artist, and a good one too. We had known each other since Val and I first came to Alderaan. We weren't even friendly, not back then. He had always seemed to find ways to get under my skin, annoy me in some way."

Jas chuckled.

"He was trying to get your attention."

"I suppose so," she nodded, "When we finally started our…relationship, it began during a class trip, a science camp in one of the southern forests, an overnight thing. Val wasn't allowed along, none of the bodyguards were, which is probably why what happened…well… happened."

"And that was?"

Vess smiled slightly.

"I needed to collect some plant for a project, I had had no luck in the afternoon so I snuck out after dark, didn't want to have to make excuses to the teachers in the morning. While I was looking, I bumped into Tion, he had seen me sneak out, and offered to help me. It took us an hour or so, but we did find what I needed; I was so happy that I hugged him, and…kissed him."

She blushed at the memory.

"He didn't respond at first, we simply stared at each other in surprise, and then we kissed again. As I said we had known each other for years, and…one thing led to another," Vess laughed, "We ended up spending the night together. It is amazing that no one caught us. It was…a clumsy thing, neither of us had ever…well…done it…before. We managed to make it back to camp before anyone missed us."

Jas nodded, again, he had no reason to judge. In fact, part of him was glad to hear that Vessaria had been with someone before him.

At least he could say that he wasn't the one who started corrupting her.

"Why wasn't he still at your side when we met?" he asked her.

The girl's eyes narrowed at the question.

"That was all Aunt Dorma and Val's fault. We tried to hide what we were doing, but eventually, we did get caught, people realized that we were seeing each other. Aunt Dorma went to see Tion's parents, and him. Val went with her, to see if he was suitable to court me. They told him about my family, and what was waiting for me back on Bantoon, the crown, my birthright, all of it. They wanted to see if Tion would be a proper consort for me."

"I'm guessing that didn't work out?"

"No," Vess said flatly.

"Tion broke up with me. He thought I lied to him, that I misled him. I had never told him about my past, he thought I was just some noble girl from House Rist."

Vess sighed, even now, Jas could sense her anger, it was old, but still flickered in the dying embers.

"I was furious with Val and Aunt Dorma for the longest time. I blamed them for what happened. I suppose I should count myself lucky, had Aunt Adira came to me then with the offer to abdicate, I might have done it out of spite."

Jas said nothing, he could understand her pain. He knew what it was like to be rejected. Prynn had seen to that.

"Did you love him," Jas asked, "This Tion?"

Vess shrugged, "I thought I did," she admitted. "I was sixteen and it was my first time. I've thought about it a few times since it ended, the years have given me…what is the word?"

"Time to think," Jas offered, "Perspective."

"That's the one, perspective," she said with a smile, "Tion was nice, but…he was an artist, sensitive, and all that. Yet, looking back, I can't say that he would have made a good consort for a queen, at least, not one with so many enemies waiting for her to return home."

And there is the queen again, Jas thought.

There were times that Vess sounded far older than her age, unsurprising considering what she had needed to endure since fleeing her home world.

She reached out to him her hand caressing his jaw, he couldn't help it, he leaned into her touch, enjoying it.

Such intimacy, after so much time alone…

…it…it felt good.

"And what of you, my knight," she asked, "Has anyone else found their way into your heart?"

Despite her honesty, part of him wanted to shy away, say nothing. He didn't really want to look back.

The girl told you what she has endured, his conscience chided, she deserves to know the same.

He probably could have stayed silent, but…

He owed her something, she had told him her past, fair was fair.

Okay, he thought, fine.

He met her gaze evenly, he wanted her to know, and understand.

"There was someone, we met…shortly after we dropped you off on Alderaan. She was a medical student on Corellia. We…dated for several months."

Vessaria's expression turned thoughtful.

"Did she hurt you," she asked, "I can hear the pain in your voice."

"No more than I hurt her," he replied, "I never told her about the Jedi side of my life. She found out when a group of enemies tracked me down, they kidnapped her, used her to get to me. I saved her from them, but…the danger that I exposed her to, she…she wanted no part of that, I don't blame her."

Vess said nothing simply laid near him, comforting him.

"Did you love her?"

Her question made him sigh.

"It could have turned into that, but…in the end, I hesitated, I'm not sure if I was ready to let go, not back then."

His confession made the girl shake her head.

"Your medical student, and my artist, both desirable, but both unsuitable. "

Vessaria shook her head.

"It sounds like we have more in common than we realized."

Jas nodded.

It…seems that they did.

Perhaps they were a better match than he realized, Val had been right again.

"What about you and Val?"

The question caught him off guard.

"What?"

Vess blushed again.

"I got the feeling you two were close, did…did you ever?"

Jas frowned.

He had just been thinking about the protector, had Vessaria picked up on that?

Interesting.

"Do you love her?"

He hesitated.

What could he say?

Try being honest.

So, be it, he thought, its only my funeral.

He mustered his courage.

Here we go.

"That is not an easy question to answer, Vess," he replied, "Val and I…what we have…it is complicated. We were only together for one night, but…things happened; things that I shouldn't have allowed to happen."

"Such as?"

He shuddered, again, he was not sure if he wanted to talk about this.

She asked, his conscience reminded him, you shouldn't lie to her. She deserves to know.

He didn't want to say anything, but…he was tired of keeping secrets.

"Are you sure you wish to hear this," he inquired.

She nodded.

"I'm not a jealous woman, Jas."

That statement made him smile.

"But you do have a temper, I saw that back at the Curled Lekku."

She didn't respond right away, she ran her hand over her neck, nervously.

"I shouldn't have gotten angry with her; the two of your being there surprised me. I over reacted."

"Still," he continued, "Are you sure you want to know about this?"

"Yeah…please."

"Okay," he said with a barely suppressed sigh, and then, he told her everything. He told her not only about their night together, but also the connection that he had created to Val through the Force. He confessed that he had only sought to save her life, but that his actions had had…unforeseen consequences.

Vess listened, he sensed no judgment, merely a desire to know.

When he had finished, she merely nodded.

"Does Val know about this, this…connection you two have?"

"I hadn't worked up the courage to tell her, yet. I…I was afraid that she might think I did it on purpose, that I took advantage of her."

"It doesn't sound like that to me," Vess replied, "You saved her life that day. You made sure that Val would be there for me. I don't see any malice in that."

"The sad part is that I'm not sure how to undo it. A Jedi Master might know, but I'm far from such mastery. Plus, I fear that all that Val and I had after was not real, but manipulation on my part. How can I tell her about that?"

Vess smiled.

"The fact that you are worried about this is proof that you are a better man than you give yourself credit for, Jas. Val will understand, she might be a little resentful for a time, but…I think she will come to see that you had no choice."

He chuckled.

"This is the first time that I've ever spoken about this with anyone. I don't usually open myself up like this."

Vess giggled.

"Considering where we are, what we did. It is not like we have many secrets between us right now, Jas.

Well, that is certainly the truth.

It felt strange, laying out under the stars, with nothing between them but the air. Their lovemaking had opened a door, and they had both stepped through it.

It was an intimacy that was both scary and gratifying at the same time.

Vess touched his arm and ran her finger down from his hand to his thigh, he couldn't deny that he enjoyed the sensation.

"You can tell me anything, my love," Vessaria purred, "A man should be free to be honest with his woman."

Her expression turned thoughtful then, though…he sensed a bit of worry as well.

"Am I your woman, Jas?

The question was far more than mere words, Jas knew that, the girl wanted to know if this was more than simply a pleasurable moment, a game to slake their mutual lust.

A wise man would have backed away, he supposed, a Jedi would have backed away, someone true to the Jedi Code would have accepted the pleasure in this moment, and let it pass. He knew the danger of attachment…

…but…

Jas reached out and caressed the girl's cheek, he enjoyed the happy sigh that escaped her lips.

Damn.

He smiled slightly.

It seems that I'm truly lost.

"Before we answer that question, there is something we need to do first."

"Val," she purred, leaning in to his touch, "the others…we…we…um…must help them."

"Yeah," he said.

He moved in closer then, their noses touching, they looked deep into each other's eyes.

"Val, you, and I, we will talk when this is all over. I need to explain what happened year ago. You understand that, yes?"

She nodded.

"I understand," he could hear the sadness in her voice, perhaps she feared this was the start of a rejection.

"But when the others are safe? What will happen then, Jas? What do you want to happen?"

Again, not an easy question…

What he had learned as a Jedi clashed with what he desired.

Vessaria had gotten through his defenses. She had got him to hope again. They had grown closer over the last few weeks.

He didn't want to simply throw that away.

This isn't easy, he thought, but then again…

…nothing worthwhile ever is.

He kissed her chastely on the lips.

"I want this. I want to try and see where this goes, but duty…it must come first. We must…"

His admission made her smile, and again, she didn't wait for him to finish.

She kissed him, deeply, passionately.

He didn't bother trying to resist.

She was so passionate, so aggressive, like Val, and other Bann women, he supposed.

He groaned into her mouth, enjoying the sensation.

Thank the Force for Bann women!

She took his hands, guided them to her breast, while she gently pushed him onto his back.

Again, he found himself looking up at her, feeling her straddle him, her legs wrapping around his hips.

"Duty must come first, both a queen and a Jedi must accept that," she agreed as she began to move above him.

He gasped, he had no words, blood rushed to his head, what she was doing to him…

…it felt…so good!

She moaned and arched her back.

"Let duty come with the dawn," she panted, her voice husky.

Jas' heart pounded, she…she was…

By the Force!

"Vessaria," he gasped, "My…my lady!"

She smirked.

"Let…ah…let the rest of…of this night be ours, my love."

He sat up, wrapping her in his arms.

"Yes," he agreed, "Our night!"

He kissed his way up her throat, gently biting and nibbling on her soft skin.

She cried out, enjoying his touch.

Tomorrow, they would seek out the others, they would face their enemies, and walk into danger and possible death, but not tonight.

The dawn would come, but not yet…

Vessaria moaned his name as she found her release, and the two of them were left panting in each other's arms.

Overhead, the stars remained, and moons moved across the sky.

The night would end, eventually, but…

…not yet.