Reunion


Author: Lanna C email:dewlannaa@hotmail.com
Archive: ok
Disclaimer: All characters except Tsalia Kai are borrowed
and will be returned unharmed.
Rating: NC-17
Pairing: Q/f
Summary: Sequel to Second Thoughts.
Feedback: "You may fire when ready."

************************************************

Qui-Gon Jinn was awakened from his forced healing trance
to find himself surrounded by concerned faces. There were 
the usual amount of healers present as well as Mace Windu,
Master Yoda and of course Obi-Wan.

"Where's Lia?" He asked, searching the room for her. The
people around him looked at each other uncomfortablely.
"Has something happened to her?" He was worried now
and began to painfully sit up.

The tall blue skinned healer forced him back down. "Master
Jinn, you will rest or I will put you under again."

"Where is she!" He demanded.

"I don't know," Obi-wan began, "She was here last night, but
when I woke this morning she was gone. I thought she might
have gone home to change so I tried to contact her there. Either
she wasn't there or she didn't answer the comm. I talked to
Brum at the library, he hasn't seen her either."

"I'm sure she'll be back any minute, Qui-Gon. The girl's been
here every day." Windu added.

Qui-Gon knew in his heart that she would not be back any
time soon. Something was terribly wrong. He didn't need the
force to tell him that.

A healer entered the room carrying a small holodisk case.
Qui-Gon was gripped by an overwhelming sense of dread.
That disk did not contain good news, he was certain of that.

"Master Jinn a messenger just dropped this off for you," the
healer said, handing the case to Qui-Gon.

***********************************************

The jedi master had asked for some privacy to view his 
message after Obi-Wan had brought a reader to him. When
the room had cleared, he slipped the disk into the small device.
A small wavy image of Lia fluttered to life over the reader. 
Qui-Gon's heart sank.

"I suppose you have figured out by now that I have gone," she
began, "I never wanted to hurt you, I hope you realize that. It
was just time for me to go. I will always love you. Maybe 
someday you will be able to forgive me for leaving you this way,
I never have been very good at saying good-bye." Lia's image
faded as the message ended.

Qui-Gon roared in anguish, throwing the reader against the 
wall, shattering it. The jedi master closed his eyes as he sought
out the solace of the force. She was too young, he thought, how
could I have let myself fall so hard? She made me happy. More
happy than I had ever been. What could have gone wrong? I
know she was able to shield her thoughts, but I never sensed
anything hidden. She always projected such an excitement and
happiness toward me. And love. I could feel how she loved me,
it warmed my soul and touched my heart. Why did she leave?
It makes no sense. We were happy together, I know we were.
Something must have happened, but what? 

"Master? Are you all right?"

Qui-Gon opened his eyes, he hadn't even heard Obi-Wan
enter the room. The apprentice stared at the reader in peices
on the floor.

"She's gone, Obi-Wan," the jedi master said quietly.

"I know. She left a message for me too. Would you like to
see it?" Obi-Wan handed his reader to Qui-Gon.

He took the reader from his apprentice, sighing deeply
as he started the message.

Lia's form appeared again. Even before she started 
speaking, Qui-Gon noticed something was different
in this message. The way she stood was relaxed now,
her stance in his message had been rigid, like a bad
actor's on a stage. 

"I wanted to thank you for being such a good friend to
me, Obi-Wan. I'm really going to miss you." She paused
for a moment the added in a slightly shaky voice, "Take
care of Qui-Gon for me."

She spoke at ease here, not fast and flippant like in his
message. She had obviously rehearsed it, wanting it
to sound callous enough so that he wouldn't question
why she had left him.

Obi-Wan watched silently as his master viewed Lia's
message. It was hard enough for him to see Qui-Gon
in a hospital bed, but the pain he saw in the man's
eyes was disheartening.

"Something happened Obi-Wan, I'm not sure what,
but something happened that made her want to leave."

"I think I might know what it was," the young man said.
"We were on our way to see you after they released you
from the bacta tank and passed some knights talking in
the corridor. I didn't hear as much as she did but they
were saying something about how you would never have
been hurt if she hadn't caused you to lose your focus."

"Surely she wouldn't let something like that get to her."

"I told her not to pay them any mind, but she was really
quiet after that. That has to be it, Master, there's nothing
else. She probably thought she was doing it for your
own good."

"You might be right, Padawan. If I could just speak with
her..."

The cheif healer stormed into Qui-Gon's room, a stern
look on his face as he spoke, "Master Jinn, what are
you doing?"

Qui-Gon lay back down slowly, he hadn't realized he
was sitting up until the blue man shouted.

"Kenobi," the healer continued, "It's time for you to
leave. You may return in the morning."

"Yes, Master Vo," Obi-Wan replied, then addressing
Qui-Gon he said, "I'll see if I can find out where Lia
went, Master."

An icy stare from Master Huu Vo sent the apprentice
out of the room quickly. He then turned his attention
to Qui-Gon. "Need I remind you that you are recovering
from massive internal injuries and by all rights should 
be dead right now? That boy could have died using
his own life force to keep you alive, and how do you
repay him? By not following orders and putting your
recovery at risk! You are to lie flat in this bed and rest.
If I feel so much as a tiny hint that you might try to leave
here before I release you, I'll have you back in a healing
trance faster than you can draw your lightsaber. Do I
make myself clear?"

A tired sigh escaped the jedi master, his body a painful
reminder of how close he had come to being one with
the force. "Quite clear, Master Vo. You have my word
as a jedi that I will remain until released."

***************************************************

Qui-Gon visualized the pain floating away from his body.
As long as he stayed focused he could lessen the agony
that coursed through his healing body. He was so tired
but the pain made sleeping difficult and his fatigue made
focusing on pain relief just as hard. Then there was Lia.
His mind constantly wandered back to her. Where was
she? Why had she left? How could he get her back? If
he could just sleep then he could manage his pain
better and think clearly. Tears fell from the corners of
his eyes as his mental and physical ailments got the
better of him.

His suffering did not go unnoticed however, for at that
moment a small figure entered the room. Climbing into
a chair at the head of the bed, the tiny green creature
placed a hand over the ailing man's forehead. "Sleep,
my Padawan."

************************************************

Tsalia Kai entered the bedroom of her new home on
Kashyyyk. It was a small sparsely furnished room,
consisting of a bed, night stand and a chair. There
were two doors in the room, one led to a small fresher
with showering unit, the other to the main room of the
house. The main room was larger than the bedroom, 
though not by much. It held the living, dining and 
kitchen areas, and was furnished with a sofa, a small
table with two chairs, a small cooler and a wood burning
stove for cooking. She was wary of using the stove as
the house was a wooden structure itself. She would
light it in the morning to boil water for tea, then dowse
it before leaving for work.

Lia sat on the bed, turning on the holo-cube that stood
on her night stand. An image of herself standing in front
of Qui-Gon appeared over the cube. In the image the 
two of them were smiling and Qui-Gon had his arms
around her. The cube had been a birthday gift from
Obi-Wan and contained six different images. Each
side of the cube projected an image when that side
was on top. This was her favorite picture, she looked
at it every night before retiring. How she longed to feel
Qui-Gon's strong arms around her now. In the three
weeks since she had left Coruscant he had been 
uppermost on her mind. She wondered how he was
recovering from his last mission or if he thought of her
any more, and if he did was he angry. She still believed
she had done the right thing by leaving, but that didn't
make the nights any easier. The days either for that
matter, she thought. As busy as she was at work, her
mind was on the jedi master constantly.

Lia had made many friends when she was on Kashyyyk
investigating an old jedi hut. She had become very close
to a young wookiee named Chewbacca, it was Chewie
that she contacted from the transport that took her away
from Coruscant. They had discussed opening a library
in the village of Lloomonnk many times while cataloging
the things they found in the jedi's home. Chewbacca was
delighted to hear that she was returning. While she
was en route he found her a new home and a building
they could convert into a library. Lia had also contacted
Senator Kworroporro of Kashyyyk hoping he might be
of some help in filling the shelves of the new library
when it was completed. The senator, thrilled at the
prospect of a library in the village he grew up in, promised
to do everything he could to see that it was fully stocked
and operational.

The senator was as good as his word, shipments from
libraries and merchants all over Kashyyyk began arriving
a week ago. they were loaded with data disks, holos, 
readers, even scanning equipment for cataloging. Lia
and Chewie worked long hours every day remodeling
the building that would soon house a library. The work
was hard and physically demanding but Lia enjoyed
working with Chewbacca again. He asked about Qui-Gon
only once, then changed the subject when he saw how
much it hurt for her to talk about him. He had a wonderful
sense of humor that kept Lia from the gloom that threatened
to engulf her.

Tomorrow they would start shelving and cataloging. In a
week the Kworroporro Library of Lloomonnk would be
open. The senator himself would be there for a small
ribbon cutting ceremony.

Lia yawned, switched off the holo-cube and climbed
under the covers. She was happy with the work she 
was doing here, she enjoyed Chewie's company
immensely, but when she went to bed each night she
felt cold and empty. And alone, more alone than she
had ever been before. Chiding herself for feeling sorry
for herself again, she curled into a ball and began to cry.

*****************************************************

Qui-Gon Jinn slipped silently through the front door of
Lia's home. He crossed to the bedroom door, opening
it quietly. His breath caught in his throat as he saw the
one person he had longed to see for weeks now. Even
in the dark room he could make out her small form, curled
in small ball, asleep. His hand shook as he brushed a 
lock of dark hair out of her face. She was so beautiful. 
There had been many times over the past few weeks
when he feared he would never see her again. Tears
began to fill his eyes as his emotions came to a head.
He retreated to the chair in the corner, drawing on the
living force, so abundant on Kashyyyk, to compose
himself.

His calm returning, Qui-Gon was content to just watch
her sleep for now. He had no idea what he would say
when she woke anyway. He just hoped she would be
as happy to see him as he was to see her. It seemed
like a lifetime since he had held her in his arms.

He and Obi-wan had almost given up hope of finding
her trail. They found her name on a passenger list
of a transport that left Coruscant the morning Qui-Gon
was released from his healing trance. They found
no record, however, of her disembarking any where.
She had seemingly vanished. They had no idea what
name she might be traveling under. He and Obi-Wan
had contacted her parents and even old acquaintances
to get some clue as to where she had gone, but to no
avail. Even Master Yoda was concerned, for he had
received a holo message from her as well. In it she
had thanked him for the opportunities he had given
her, then tearfully appologized for having to leave so
suddenly.

Qui-Gon froze as Lia turned over.

He doubted they ever would have found her if it hadn't
been for the information he got from Finis Valorum. The
Supreme Chancellor summoned Qui-Gon to his office
to tell him Senator Kworroporro of Kashyyyk was organizing
shipments of data disks and holos to be delivered to the
village of Lloomonnk for the new library there. Qui-Gon
knew instantly that that was where Lia was. She had
talked endlessly with Chewbacca, their wookiee friend,
about opening a library there. He was a bit surprised
that she would return to Kashyyyk so soon after what 
had happened to her there. He also knew she had
fallen in love with the planet and the people there.

Lia turned in her sleep again. Qui-Gon longed to
reach out and touch her soft skin, to feel her body
against his own and to lose himself in her scent. A
quiet sigh escaped his lips.

It was not quiet enough for at that moment Lia sat
upright. "Who's there?" She asked, her voice filled
with fear, "I know some's there! What do you want?"

"It's all right Lia, it's just me," he said softly.

"Qui-Gon?" She was out of breath, "Why are you
here?"

He rose from the chair in the corner, coming to sit
on the edge of the bed beside her. Lia wanted 
desperately to fall into his arms, but she had to be
strong. It was for his own good.

"I had to speak to you," his voice was quiet. The room
was dark but not too dark for him to be able to make
out her bare shoulders and the way she clutched the
sheet over her naked breasts.

"I've started a new life," she began shakily, "There's
nothing you can say to make me change my mind."
Why did he have to be so handsome, to smell so
good? It took nearly all of her will power not to reach
out to him.

"Just hear me out, then if you still want me to, I'll
leave."

He sounded hurt. She wanted to comfort him, hold
him.

He waited for her to object, when she didn't he took 
a deep breath and continued, "I know by leaving
me, you thought you were saving my life or Obi-Wan's.
I know you worried that because of our relationship
I may have become less effective as a jedi knight.
When in fact the truth is that our relationship has
made me a better knight. My connection to the
force is stronger than ever, allowing me to follow
it's guiding better. The council would never assign
me missions if they thought I were incapable of
handling them. I know my accident frightened
you, but it was just that, an accident. I hadn't lost
my focus, I knew there was an explosive device
there and had stepped around it. What I didn't
foresee was the branch that fell to the ground,
triggering the explosion."

Lia sat listening to him talk, trying to take everything
in. Had she been wrong in leaving? It had made
perfect sense at the time. Now she wasn't so sure.

"Lia, I truly believe that we are meant to be together,
that the force led us to each other for a reason." He
paused, heart pounding in his chest, to cup her cheek
in a large shaky hand. "But mostly you make me 
happy. I love you, Lia, and I will not give you up without
a fight."

She was sobbing by the time he had finished. 

"I didn't want to go," she cried. "I just thought..."

"Shhhh," he said, taking her at long last in his arms,
"None of that matters now that I have you back." He
held her tight against him as she cried, stroking her
hair as he tried to blink back his own tears once more.

In his arms, Lia felt as if she were home at last. No 
matter what the future held, this was where she belonged.
She should never have doubted his link to the force. It
would have spared him the pain she had heard in his
voice. "I am sorry. I never meant to hurt you," she sobbed,
looking into his teary eyes. "I love you, Qui-Gon."

Smiling down at her, his lips met hers in a tender kiss.
"Promise me something," he said after releasing her.

"Anything."

"Promise you won't do anything for my own good
without talking to me first, and if something is worrying
you, talk to me about it."

"You have my word, my love," she said wiping her
cheeks with her hands. "Now hold me, I'm cold."

He chuckled, slipping his cloak off and wrapping it
around her naked form. She snuggled back into
his warm embrace, soon drifting off to sleep. Removing
his boots, Qui-Gon lay down on the bed, holding Lia
close. He was reluctant to sleep for fear she might
slip away from him again.

********************************************

It was early morning when Lia woke to find Qui-Gon
sleeping at her side, still clothed and with an arm
around her. She marvelled at the sight of him, so
powerful, so loving and forgiving, so beautiful and
built. Desire flamed inside her as she watched his
chest rise and fall with his rythmic breathing. Her
breath began to quicken as she thought of the things
she longed for him to do to her. She gently ran an
appreciative hand over one of his muscular thighs,
causing him to emit a contented sigh. She smiled
at the effect she had on him even as he slept. Lia
studied his noble profile then planted a tiny peck
on the tip of his nose.

"What are you doing?" He said without opening
his eyes, in that voice that made her knees weak.

"I'm trying not to wake you," she replied, smiling.

He opened his eyes, turning on his side to face
her. His blue eyes were filled with a lusty sleepiness
she had not seen in some time. He pulled her
close, claiming her mouth in a hungry kiss, which
she eagerly returned. As their tongues danced,
Lia's hands franticly tore at Qui-Gon's clothes, while
Qui-Gon's slid the robe off of Lia, exposing her
naked body. His touch electrified her as his free
hand moved up her arm and over her shoulder.

Qui-Gon released her lips to watch her body as
she reacted to his touch. Her sensual movements
as his fingers traced a line from her throat to her
abdomen ate away at his self control. He abruptly
rose from the bed, shedding his remaining clothing.

Lia watched anxiously as Qui-Gon hurriedly slipped
out of his pants. His engorged penis sprang proudly
free. His magnificent body seemed to glow in the
morning light as he climbed over her. She pulled
him in close, kissing his lips feverishly. His skin
was as hot as her desire for him. She needed to
feel him inside her desparately.

Qui-Gon pulled back from Lia to gaze at her again.
She lay before him, her eyes clouded with lust, her
whole body pleading. The insides of her thighs rested
warm against the outside of his. He ran his hands
up her thighs, over her stomach and ribs to the two
perfect mounds of flesh that could bring him to his 
knees. He kneeded the handfuls that were neither
too small nor too large. She purred, arching her
back, as he rolled the hard buds between finger 
and thumb. He bent over, licking one of the taught
nipples. Lia shuddered, twisting her fingers in his
soft hair and running her foot along the inside of
his thigh to his oozing member. His control slipping
rapidly, Qui-Gon attacked her nipples with his
mouth, nipping and sucking heartily on them. 

Lia was moaning constantly now. His assault on her
breasts had started a chain reaction of pleasure
in her core. Her body spasmed as her orgasm
took hold. "Do it now!" She pleaded breathlessly.

Qui-Gon plunged deep inside her wet velvety
folds, causing her to cry aloud at the intensity
of his thrust. Engulfed in the warmth of her body,
he paused, allowing her to adjust to his size, then
he began his ride. He slid in and out of her, each 
stroke sinking deeper than the one before.

Lia was in ecstasy, each thrust an object of bliss.
She was coming again, more violently this time.
She shrieked,digging into his back with her nails 
and wrapping her legs around his waist as her
climax reached it's apex.

The rythmic contractions of her vaginal muscles
drove him to the brink of his own release. The 
closer he came, the faster and harder he pumped.
A low groan started in his throat, rising in volume
until it became a roar of passion, sending his seed
bursting inside her.

The heat of his ejaculate seemed to radiate through
her, enveloping her in a comforting warmth. She
pulled him, sweat covered and still gasping for breath,
over her, wanting to feel the weight of him. He covered
her face with tender kisses, sometimes lightly rubbing
his beard along her jaw line.

Lia's overwhelming, all encompassing love for Qui-Gon
prompted her to do something she had never done
since learning how to use them, she lowered her
mental shields. Her most closely guarded thoughts
and emotions she now shared with him.

It took Qui-Gon a second to realize what had taken
place. A flood of sensations assaulted his consciousness,
bombarding him with visions and feelings so intense,
they took his breath away. Looking into Lia's soft blue
eyes, he let her guide him through her soul. What he
felt there brought tears of joy to his eyes. He rolled
on to his back, taking her with him. So overcome was
he by her gift that words seemed useless. Taking her
lips in a seering kiss, he projected to her all the love
and passion he felt for her.

The two lovers lay in each others arm exploring their
new bond until the heat of the morning sun lulled them
to sleep.


END