Master Apprentice Archive Missing the Obvious Quick search:

Archive: MA, or ask me

Category: Q/O, Romance

Rating: G

Warnings: Fluff alert!

Summary: For a Jedi Master, Qui-Gon can be a bit dim.

Disclaimer: Characters belong to George Lucas, not me.

Feedback: Yes please

Note: Many thanks to Thalia for the beta. This is a birthday present for my master, Cuimne. Happy Birthday! Here is some light fluff for you as a change from angst.

It was my fellow Master Adi Galia who first pointed out to me the developing relationship between my padawan and hers. Siri was slightly younger than Obi-Wan's 17 years - small, blonde, neat, showing great promise as a future Knight. Our current joint mission to Caamas left a lot of time for the padawans to spend together, which they did - reviewing the mission and preparing their own reports - obviously, that was expected as part of their training - keeping up with the work set for them by the temple tutors, and some time spent sparring together. It was during one of these sparring sessions that Adi and I, returning from negotiations, came upon the two in the palace garden. Both were breathing heavily from exertion, and at that point in the match it seemed as though Adi's padawan had the upper hand, her smaller form darting around, blade flashing.

"They make a lovely couple," Adi said as they completed their respectful bows to each other and began walking towards us through the garden. I turned to face her sharply, the question about to form, but she laughed before I had time to speak. "Don't tell me you haven't noticed, Qui!" The two padawans approached, and bowed again, this time to their Masters. I gave Adi a "tell me later" look as the youngsters joined us.

That night, I found my mind turning to this brief conversation. I let my thoughts drift over the past few days - Obi-Wan and Siri worked well together, no doubt. It had not always been so. When they were younger, they saw each other as rivals, as do most initiates unfortunately. This is a regretful by-product of our system of choosing initiates for apprenticeship. The system is flawed, and although it seems to have worked over the millennia to produce able knights and masters, at what cost to those failed initiates left behind in the choosing? I suppressed a shudder when I once again thought back to Obi-Wan's choosing - he could so easily have slipped away from me and I would not have this bright, beautiful young man by my side now, a joy to teach and to share my life. I stopped that thought there - no, he would not share my life for much longer. He was growing fast, physically gaining strength, though I suspected he was near his full height already, but also growing as a near-knight. The time when we would part was drawing near. Jedi that I am, I gave up the ache produced by that thought to the Force.

I thought of the two padawans together - fighting, conferring... Did I see anything to support Adi's innuendo that they were sharing more than friendship? Obi-Wan had always been full of life and enthusiasm, yes, but now as I analysed his behaviour recently perhaps he seemed more 'alive', his Force signature shining brightly. Was he in love? With Siri? I imagine Adi had noticed such a change in her own padawan also.

Examine your feelings, I told myself. I was happy that the boy appeared to have found someone, possibly a life-partner. Really. I was. Tahl's memory surfaced - I had left it too late to recognise and act upon my feelings then. The pain those memories always brought may have lost its raw edge over time, but was still there.

My life now could have been very different - not that the missions and my work would be affected by such a relationship, but there would be comfort in knowing that there was someone in my world who returned my love, who knew me better than I know myself. For Obi-Wan, I hoped that he would know such peace.

But my feelings surprised me at this point in my musings - a dark emotion crept in. Jealousy? Surely not. Why should I begrudge the boy his happiness because I myself never had such a bond? Sleep was a long time coming.

The next day, we were due to leave the planet. After first meal, before Obi-Wan had completed packing our few things for our return to Coruscant, he asked to speak to me. We were alone in the comfortable rooms we had been allocated for the visit. I sensed his uncertainty. "Master, may I ask your advice?"

"Of course, Padawan." I smiled. I knew what was coming. Be happy for the boy, I kept telling myself.

"It's rather embarrassing for me..." he hesitated. I gave him what I hoped was an encouraging look, and he continued. "Well, Master. What would you advise someone to do if they felt... attracted to another person? If they... loved someone?" He actually blushed at this point. "And that person didn't seem to notice?"

Oh, my Obi-Wan. "What makes you think they haven't noticed, Obi-Wan?"

"I am sure they haven't, Master. I don't know whether to say anything, do anything, and risk spoiling what relationship we have already, or leave things as they are and continue to hope that... I don't know. It's very difficult," he trailed off, looking at his feet.

I considered. "Well, my Padawan, I can only advise you to follow your heart in this. I myself felt such as attraction to Master Tahl, but left it too late to act." I stopped, and Obi-Wan looked stricken. "Master, I am so sorry. I didn't mean to..."

I placed my hands on his shoulders, looking into his eyes. Beautiful eyes. "You have done nothing wrong, Obi-Wan," gently squeezing his shoulders. "What I meant to say was if you feel strongly for someone, tell them. It is better to know where you stand. You should take the opportunity given to you - live in the moment." How many times have I had to remind him of that?

His eyes shone, and he smiled at me. "Thank you, Master. Then I shall act." And before I could answer he leaned up, standing almost on his toes, placing his hands on my hips and kissed me on the lips.

Not a thank-you kiss, nor a chaste, casual greeting. He pressed against me, his arms sliding around my waist, eyes closing. His lips opened and I felt his tongue lap against my lips in invitation. Then he drew back. This kiss was over quite quickly, and I froze.

"I love you, Master." He loved me. Not Siri. Not anyone else - me. And I loved him so much.

His face changed from the open, happy expression, becoming guarded, anxious. I just stood there looking at him. How could I have not seen this?

"I am sorry, Master" he began. "Please, don't let this mean..."

Where was all my Jedi training now? I still just looked at him; wanting nothing more than to take him, hold him, kiss him. What had I just told him? Live in the moment. Take the opportunity given. So I did.

The joy of holding this beautiful boy in my arms - nothing in my life before had ever felt so right. I kissed him, this time it lasted longer, and I allowed his tongue to slip inside my mouth, tasting, searching, while my arms enclosed his strong, slim form.

At last, I managed to ask him: "But what about Siri? I thought you and she were..."

"Siri?" he asked incredulously. "She's my friend! You mean you thought we were...? That I...?" He was laughing now, relief evident, along with the joy. "Siri!" he said again. "No, it has always been you, Master. Only you."