What the Maid Saw

by Shirasade (shirasade@just-in-dreams.com)

Feedback: greatly appreciated - off list please, since I'm only subbed to m_a_fiction

Archive: master_apprentice and my site (http://www.just-in-dreams.com/fanfiction) - anyone else, please ask!

Fandom: Star Wars (a first for me!)

Category: Qui/Obi, Romance, First Time

Spoilers: set before TPM, no spoilers

Rating: G so far - but it'll heat up, believe me! *g*

Warning: slash, meaning m/m relationships

Disclaimer: Everything belongs to George - well, except for Vella and the story line, because George would never let them have so much fun! I'll put everything back where I found it, I promise...

Beta: My first beta'd slash fic - thanks so much, girl! All mistakes left are entirely mine.

Summary: An outsider decides that it is time for Qui-Gon and his padawan to admit their feelings for each other.

Prologue

Allow me to introduce myself: My name is Vella and I live and work at the Jedi Temple on Coruscant. I've lived here almost all of my life and grew up surrounded by the Living Force. But I'm not a Jedi, the Force doesn't flow through me - I'm just a maid, living to serve the Knights, trying to make their hard lives a bit easier.

The Jedi took me in when I had nowhere to turn to. I try to repay them for their kindness as much as one as insignificant as I can. I like to think that some of them even consider me their friend - like kind Master Yoda, who always looks at me with those big round eyes and finds a word of wisdom to keep my mind occupied while my arms work.

But my favorite Jedi is definitely Master Jinn. He's seldom at the Temple, always rushing around the galaxy trying to put out fires lit by others. Whenever he's at the Temple, however, he asks for me and wants to know how I'm doing, if I'm happy with my life. It was he who taught both myself and his young padawan, Obi-Wan, how to read and write.

Obi-Wan's name used to be Ben Lars - something that's hard to imagine when I look at him. It seems as if he's always been Obi-Wan Kenobi, slightly rebellious padawan of his equally rebellious Master. I like to think of him as my younger brother - I love him and want to look out for him the way an older sister would. He seems so young; his face has not lost the innocent and boyish look it had when I first met him. Master Jinn had just chosen him as his padawan - or more correctly the Force had chosen and both Master Jinn and Obi-Wan were more than happy with the decision. Obi-Wan's face was still glowing with pride and joy when he moved his belongings into Master Jinn's quarters, where I was busy cleaning out the room that had been unused ever since Xanatos betrayed the Jedi. Looking at him I couldn't help but notice that despite his joy the boy was also nervous and not quite sure how living with his new Master would be. I stopped my work and smiled at him encouragingly. How could I not like him when he had been the cause of Master Jinn humming to himself this morning? "Don't be scared, Padawan Kenobi", I said to him impulsively, "Master Jinn will be your Master - you couldn't have gotten a better one!" He smiled warmly at me and told me to call him Obi-Wan - and ever since then I have felt close to him.

But of course this closeness is an illusion, our lives are too different for more than mutual affection. I don't doubt that he is genuinely fond of me, but his life revolves around becoming a Jedi and travelling the galaxy with Master Jinn, while mine concentrates on keeping the Temple clean.

Learning something as fundamental as the alphabet together has formed ties between us and even today he always interrupts whatever he's doing to chat with me for a while when I come in to clean his room. He was the first one to notice the change in me after that drunk swine of a gardener had claimed my virginity against my will. He hugged me to him, his body tense with hardly contained rage, and took me to Master Jinn. In the surprisingly tender embrace of this giant of a man I could cry and begin to heal, while Obi-Wan vented his rage by disciplining the cause of my unhappiness. It's only thanks to them that I overcame what could have very well destroyed a big part of myself. I will be forever in their debt.

Therefore it was only natural that I tell Master Jinn and Obi-Wan when I fell in love and got engaged to Darin, one of the technicians often called upon when something is broken at the Temple. Darin is my life, his love has made my life complete. Master Jinn and Obi-Wan share my happiness - and for the first time I feel as though I have something that they are missing. I no longer want to exchange my life with that of a Jedi, not if it would mean living without Darin. It's really a pity that most Jedi live in celibacy - they are wonderful people and I'm sure they would make wonderful lovers. Especially Master Jinn and Obi-Wan who both have so much love to give and deserve to be loved in return.

Neither, however, seems interested in finding a partner. It is as if they are too wrapped up in their lives as Jedi and their close relationship with each other to even notice that something is missing from their lives.

Walking over the training ground I watch several Master/padawan pairs fighting. By far the most graceful couple are the two I have just thought about - Master Jinn and Obi-Wan seem to be dancing, not fighting. Their movements are so graceful, their kicks and turns look almost choreographed as they circle each other, their eyes never leaving one another. It's a captivating sight, the bond between them is almost visible, even to someone like me. They have finished their fight and bow slightly. Obi-Wan says something, a wide boyish grin on his face, and Master Jinn's face lights up as he slaps his student on the back and answers. Side by side they leave the court, their arms almost touching, their strides matching perfectly. They talk animatedly, probably going over the fight to find any mistakes, completely oblivious to everything except one another.

Hmm... I think I'll have to look into that - maybe there is a way to repay them for everything they've done for me after all...