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Series: IS: Missing Moments # 15
Rating: G
Archive: m_a
Classification: short story, series story
Warnings: AU (compared to JA), knowledge of Inner Strength series will help.
Spoilers: follows IS:MM14 Diplomacy
Summary: Elyzabe confronts Qui-Gon about the study session in MM14.

Feedback: I always appreciate it, especially since this series has been around for so long now :)

Notes: I originally said this series would end at number 15. As of right now, I'm undecided if I am going to stick with that idea. So, this may be the last MM, or it might not.

Thank Yous: to Marzilla, Ossian, Raven and Kim for reading it over for me :)

Disclaimer: Alas, Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon aren't mine - they're the underutilized property of George Lucas. Elyzabe, however, is mine.

"Come." Qui-Gon said, when the chime to his quarters sounded. He then looked up from where he sat in his favorite chair, reading. When he saw who stood just inside the door, he just barely managed to not smile. Barely.

The woman walked further into the room, but did not smile in return. She nodded. "Qui-Gon."

He stood, gesturing toward the second chair. The Jedi Master found himself wondering silently which part of the evening's study session prompted a visit so quickly. "Have a seat, Elyzabe. Would you care for some tea?"

Letting out a long breath, she dropped into the chair. "No, thank you." When Qui-Gon was again seated, she glared at him for a moment before her expression softened. "Did you really see it necessary to bribe him, Qui-Gon?"

Trust Elyzabe to not skirt the issue. He almost winced, but managed to keep a straight face. Busted.

"That depends." It had occurred to him earlier in the evening that some argument in his own defense might not be such a bad idea. So after he'd taken Obi-Wan back, he'd made one up. Not his usual style, but neither was dealing with five year olds and friends turned teachers.

"You didn't choose to reveal all relevant information about the situation to me before hand. Therefore, I was forced to improvise." Qui-Gon might not have smiled when she glared at him, but his eyes gave him away.

"Relevant information." Elyzabe rolled her eyes. "You speak as if I asked you to negotiate a trade dispute." When she was silent for a long moment, Qui-Gon wondered if he was soon to be in more trouble than he had bargained for. When she spoke, a devious smile on her lips, he knew it to be true. "That's it."

He made a show of taking a drink of the long cold tea. Glancing up at Elyzabe, he attempted to look confused. "That's what?"

At that, she laughed outright. "Remind me to play sabacc with you sometime, Qui-Gon, if this is your best bluff." The teacher shook her head, still smiling. "You were out-maneuvered by a five year old."

"Nothing of the sort happened," Qui-Gon replied, not meeting her gaze. "He learned the words, did he not?"

Elyzabe nodded, conceding the point. "That he did. However, it's the means by which you reached that end which concern me."

"Concern you?" He did meet her steady gaze then, caught off guard. "Whatever do you mean by that?"

Qui-Gon blinked at the half sigh, half growl that met his question. "You really have no idea, do you?" When he shook his head, she laughed softly. "You cannot just bribe a child to learn, Qui-Gon. Whether best intentions," she paused at his skeptical look, "or easiest route. It doesn't matter."

"Elyzabe, I think you're over-reacting."

"Oh?" She smiled wily. "So speaks the teacher?" Qui-Gon opened his mouth to defend himself, but she beat him to it. "I know you meant well, but I can't have Obi-Wan thinking that all he has to do to get his way is refuse to do what he's supposed to do. Would you let a padawan get away with this?"

Smiling softly, Qui-Gon shook his head. "He is just a little boy, Elyzabe. He's not quite a full-grown Jedi yet."

"Yes, and as such he is a student under my care." She looked at him for a long moment, her eyes utterly sincere. "And I want what is best for him. It may seem silly. But a spelling list here, who-knows-what ten years from now."

Qui-Gon paused, he had never stopped to consider the role of teaching the youngest students -- the effect they had on them later in life. Thinking back, he could barely remember his own teacher at that age, it was a blur amid friends and activities.

She spoke, breaking him from his thoughts. "I know you think I'm over-reacting." She glanced around the quarters, sighing. "But every one of those students is my responsibility. And when they're older, and no longer under my care, they'll carry with them the lessons I try to teach."

Qui-Gon took a deep breath, nodding in acknowledgement. "I suppose I didn't think of it that way."

"A first," she replied, grinning for the moment.

Qui-Gon was beginning to remember why he usually avoided trying to argue with Elyzabe Kohn. She was too good at twisting the conversation, which was usually what he did. There was little more he hated than losing a debate. Never mind that Elyzabe liked to gloat.

He almost smiled, but refrained, refusing her at least part of the victory. "I outwitted the great Qui-Gon Jinn," she said with a note of triumph in her voice. In fact, he thought, here it comes now.

He tried to look affronted, but failed miserably. "You've done no such thing." He paused, unable not to laugh. "And if you were to claim to have done so, I'd deny it."

"Now I know it's true. You're refuting it too much." After a few moments, Elyzabe searched his gaze, hoping to make him understand. Her voice fell to a whisper. "Every time an initiate or a padawan who was once my student is hurt or . . ." She paused at that, staring out a nearby window.

Qui-Gon blinked. He hadn't thought of it quite that way. He then thought of Obi-Wan, and how he would feel if something were to happen to the boy. Heart tightening in his chest, he suddenly looked at his friend with a greater level of respect.

She cleared her throat before swallowing audibly. "Or dies, a part of me wonders if maybe I could have done something differently in the time I knew them." She was tracing patterns on the tabletop absentmindedly while she spoke. Qui-Gon reached over and took the hand in one of his own, his large hand almost swallowing her smaller one.

"You have no cause to worry about such things." His tone was serious, but he managed a half-smile. "No matter what jokes we might make, you are a wonderful teacher for the children. The only worry is when the likes of Mace or myself has the chance to play along."

"Force save us all," she replied, blinking quickly. Qui-Gon wondered for a moment if the shine in her eyes had been tears, but it was gone before he was certain. "The Temple might never recover a group of initiates trained by the maverick and the straight arrow."

Releasing her hand, Qui-Gon leaned back in his chair. "Funny, I never imagined Mace as a maverick."

Chuckling, Elyzabe shook her head. "No. Neither has he, I'm sure."

"I seriously doubt it. He was even boring when we were young." For a moment Qui-Gon stared off into space, as if seeing some event of times past. He blinked, and once again met her gaze. "Then again, we usually got him in trouble anyway."

"Now that I have no trouble believing." She glanced at the chrono and saw that it was long after when she would normally have been asleep. "I should go, but I wanted to talk to you tonight."

Qui-Gon nodded. "I understand. And I am sorry."

Standing, Elyzabe tucked her hands into the sleeves of her robe. Following her lead, Qui-Gon stood and accompanied her over to the door. "Even with what I've said . . . They are only children for such a little while. Soon enough will it be time for them to be prim and proper Jedi."

"Is that a crack in the iron-willed teacher routine?" Qui-Gon asked, crossing his arms over his chest.

Hitting him lightly on the arm, Elyzabe groaned. "I know I have to be strict with them. It's my duty. But still, shouldn't we let them revel in youth while they can?"

His friend had a quick wit, with a warped sense of humor to match. But it was her insight into both herself and others, however, was what often surprised him. Qui-Gon nodded, recognizing her point. "That we should, but not at the cost of structure and discipline. A point you've well argued."

Her eyes twinkled as she spoke. It was a sight Qui-Gon oft associated with trouble. "Well, of course that." She then paused for a moment, tilting her head to the side. "However, if you were to ask to visit the Animal Gardens with Obi-Wan in the future, it could be arranged."

"I would enjoy that very much, as would Obi-Wan, I'm sure."

When Elyzabe smiled, Qui-Gon felt his stomach clench uncomfortably -- an alarm of warning sounding in his head. "Are you free, say, a week from tomorrow in the evening?"

He nodded warily, fighting the urge to rub the bridge of his nose. A small voice in the back of his head was screaming. Trouble indeed. "I believe so."

"Good. You can come to the classroom and then accompany Obi-Wan and his classmates to the garden." At Qui-Gon's trapped look, she laughed. "I'll teach you to play with me, Qui."

She winked, palming the lock on the door. Taking a step into the corridor, she glanced back over at Qui-Gon. The spark in her eyes was still there, and Qui-Gon knew his instincts had been right once again. "I always win, you know."

The door closed before he could reply, and Qui-Gon was left standing there shaking his head. With a shrug he went to pour the stale tea down the sink. One day, he was going to get the last word.