| Title: I Will Always Love You Author: Laheara Timing: Obi-Wan is 15 Rating: G Spoilers: JA books Summary: Some quiet time, reflection and fun with Qui and Obi. Obi-Wan gets some comfort time with Qui-Gon at home. Disclaimers: I don't own Obi or Qui, Mr. Lucas does. I just play for fun and love of his creation he gave to us. :) ************* Part 1 Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon had arrived at the Temple late. The transport that was to pick them up on Alderaan was delayed for 8 hours and didn't get to the diplomatic building for them until almost three in the morning on that world. Therefore, Obi-Wan felt very tired since the peace talks were long and boring and he just wanted a bed and pillow. Qui-Gon was even feeling drained. After doing a few hundred of these things in his life, they begin to get boring. He noticed Obi-Wan was less then thrilled during the talks and excused him to go get them packed, as they would be leaving for Coruscant in a few hours. Then the wait for 8 hours and the long flight back to Coruscant. Obi-Wan was barely awake when they arrived at the Temple and his Master took pity on the boys forlorn state. Instead of waking him, he had the pilot land at a docking bay only 2 levels down from their quarters. He had carried the exhausted boy to his room and put him to bed. Qui-Gon did owe the boy since he had covered for the Master when he was late getting to one of the peace talks because he himself had fallen asleep. Qui-Gon pulled the covers up to the boys shoulders and turned off the lights. While walking to the door, he felt a wave of the Force come from his sleeping apprentice. It was worry and sorrow mixed with exhaustion. Qui-Gon stopped at the door and turned back around to look at his Padawan. He thought back to the last time the two had and entire day of fun. Reconnecting their bond and relaxing while enjoying each others presence. He had to admit, he had noticed Obi-Wan seemed less energetic and full of life then he normally was. Perhaps this life of constant missions and dull talks had worn him down. Usually Obi-Wan was excited to watch the descent to Coruscant and see the Temple rise up out of the immense cityscape of Galactic City. He sometimes tried to look in the windows of the Council chambers if they flew by that tower. Once he�d seen Yoda and waved, even knowing the small master couldn�t see him. This time he had only looked out the window once and was more interested in flipping his braid over and over in his fingers. Before leaving the room Qui-Gon brushed against Obi-Wan mind and calmed his dreams. The boy wriggled under the covers further and fell into a deep dreamless sleep, like a drop into a pond of still water. He would feel better in the morning. The Master walked over the comm and checked the schedule they had been keeping for the past few months. To his surprised he saw that there hadn't been more then a day of rest in three months. No wonder Obi-Wan was so tired and, �out of spunk�, as Reeft called it. Reminded of the boy, Qui-Gon considered asking Bant and Garen if they would mind keeping Obi-Wan busy for a while. But upon checking the Temple records, he saw that Bant and her Master were on Malastare and Garen and his Master were on another part of Coruscant helping the Senate. Qui-Gon knew that Reeft would be unreachable, as he and his Master rarely came home. "Well I guess it's up to me this time," Qui-Gon said quietly to himself. Knowing that Yoda would still be wake at this hour he contacted the small master and asked him to clear their schedule for the next two days. He would pay Obi-Wan back for his patience and loyalty by giving him two whole days to do whatever he pleased. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Obi-Wan awoke as skytaxi passed to close to the Temple making a barely audible 'woosh' that no one would notice but someone with Jedi honed scenes. The young fifteen year-old rolled over and looked up at the crono on his nightstand. To his surprise it was almost ten in the morning. His master usually woke him at seven or eight for early morning training before breakfast. A hint of worry passed over the boy as he reached out to the Force to check on his mentor. However, to his pleasure, he felt the same calm aura he was so familiar with. His master was in the next room relaxing, reading up on happenings here at home. Sensing no reason to hurry Obi-Wan leaned back against his pillow and closed his eyes again. He remained there for another twenty minutes or so, comfortable with the serenity that the Temple radiated, the safety of his master being near by, and the warmth of his bed. Everytime he went to Alderaan he left with cold feet, he didn't know why, but now they were toasty and warm. Sensing his master knew he was awake now, he sent a cheerful "good morning" over their bond and smiled when he received a love filled reply. Finally deciding it was time to drag his lazy hide out of bed, he got up, took some fresh clothes from his closet, and quietly walked into the refresher, so as not to disturb his master. When he had showered and changed, he entered their living room for the first time that day. Giving a small yawn he walked over to the couch next to his master's chair, infront of a large picture window overlooking Galactic City, and sat down. His master smiled at him and passed a piece of fruit from a plate near him. "Did you sleep well?" the man ask when he was almost finished the piece. "Yes Master, very well. The best in weeks. Might I assume you had something to do with that?" Obi-Wan smiled over the skin of the piece of fruit he'd just finished and was licking the juice off. Qui-Gon smiled at the sight next to him and also with notice that his apprentice had picked up on his masters signature in the boys mind that past night. "Yes, I may have had something to do with that. You approve I trust?" Obi-Wan placed the skin on the discard plate on the short but long five legged wooden table in front of him and stretched out full length, his feet going under the table, before answering. "Oh no, I don't mind at all. I wish you'd have done that a couple weeks ago. Then I might not have this many knots," the boy answered while rubbed a hand in a circular motion on the back of his neck. Qui-Gon put the data pad down and stood, walked over to the couch and sat down next to his Padawan. "Turn your back to me, I think I can help that," his soft smooth voice was barely more then a whisper. Obeying, Obi-Wan turned around and pulled his legs up and crossing his ankles in front of himself. He felt his Padawan braid being pushed over his shoulder and winced in momentary pain, then he almost melted. Qui-Gon's first spot was the huge knot that had been hurting ever since he came out this morning. It hurt for a few seconds while his master eased the skin with his expert fingers. Then the pain receded and he felt firm but gentle hands on his neck and back. Oh Force, it felt good. He closed his eyes and just let master's graceful hands do their magic on his skin. Being Force sensitive Qui-Gon could feel, from Obi-Wan, just where every sore spot was and cared for them all individually until Obi-Wan totally relaxed and was leaning heavy on his masters hands. After a few minutes of that Obi-Wan wouldn't have known if a herd of Banthas were to stamped through the room. The young man was feeling totally comfortable and then he felt his master stop and allow him to lean against him. Being a fifteen year-old apprentice, he would never have allowed this kind of thing under normal circumstances. But this was different, they had been on trying and sometimes dangerous missions for months now. With all that they hadn't had any time to themselves to just talk or... anything for that matter. It felt good just to lay against his masters shoulder and relax in their home at the Temple where they'd both grown up. It was times like this that Obi-Wan really felt the bond strengthen and he realized that this must be what family feels like. Qui-Gon *was* like a father to him. He cared for him when he was sick or injured, he talked with him when he was scared or confused. He let him cry on his shoulder when a mission went so wrong that crying was all he could do. He took him to fun places here on Coruscant to relax, he stayed in his room until he was a sleep other times, and they laughed together at funny memories or pictures or vids. Qui-Gon even spent time with Obi-Wan's friends. There really was nothing they kept from each other. It was all so open, so peaceful, so in balance, so ... perfect. Just like families Obi-Wan had seen on other worlds. Obi-Wan knew who his birth family was and talked to them from time to time. And he did feel a special connection when he was around them. But he didn't feel the same as when he was around his master. The bond of blood was strong, but the bond of love was even stronger. There was so much they shared that Obi-Wan couldn't tell his family because his life was so different from theirs. He knew he would always be welcome with the Lars, but his true home was the Temple, and always would be. And his family was Qui-Gon. As Obi-Wan rested against his master, Qui-Gon gently stroked the boy ginger hair, then rested his cheek on the boys forehead. These next two days were going to be great, even if Obi-Wan didn't know about them yet. ***End Part One*** |
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