Rival

Author: Lanna C. email: dewlannaa@hotmail.com
Archive: yes 
Disclaimer: All characters except Tsalia Kai are owned by
Lucas and will be returned unharmed.
Rating: NC-17
Pairings: Q/f
Summary: Sequel to Sparks. Begins the morning after.
Feedback: sure

Lia woke slowly, finding herself in her bed, alone. How long
had he been gone, she wondered. She only vaguely
remembered him carrying her in here. She smiled as
she thought of last night. She had never had a lover like
him before, so intense and passionate. Everything felt so
right to her, as if they were meant to be together. Yet would 
they be if he hadn't brought the balm for her burn? Her burn,
she had forgotten all about it. He was right it did take the pain
away. She knew they would have found their way together
by some other means, she was certain of it. They belonged
together. Still she knew he was a jedi first and she knew what
that could mean. However, even one day with him would be
better than a lifetime with anyone else. She caught a whiff of
his scent on the sheets and smiled again as she got out of 
bed to start her day.

She went to the fresher and started filling the oversized tub
with water, then headed to her small kitchen area to fix a cup
of tea. To her amazement, seated naked on the floor in the 
middle of her living area was Qui-Gon Jinn, his back to her.
Even from this angle he was a sight to behold. She supposed
he was meditating. Not wanting to disturb him she padded
quietly across the room.

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

Qui-Gon rose early, as was his nature, kissed Tsalia Kai on
her forehead and set out for a place to meditate. He settled
himself on the floor in the middle of the living area of Lia's
quarters. It had seemed so long since he had been able
to immerse himself in the force through meditation. He had
been haunted by Lia since the first day he had seen her.
Last night he had given in to his desires. His body had taken
over. He knew now it was the will of the force that drove him to
her, not just the lust of a man for a woman. He had felt the
living force flowing through them as they made love, binding
them together. He knew she felt it too. They were one.

Qui-Gon fell easily into meditation this morning, letting the 
force envelope him totally. Time was lost to him in this state.
The force, he knew, would release him when the time was
right. 

He became aware of another presence and opened his
eyes. Lia was just walking past, he grabbed her wrist, pulling
her naked body onto his lap. She squealed in surprise. 

"Good morning, My Love," he purred, blue eyes twinkling.

She smiled up at him, "I was trying not to disturb you."

"You must disturb me like this every morning," he said, gently
cupping a breast.

"I will try," she replied, stretching up to claim his lips in a hungry
kiss. She felt his penis pressing against her hip as they kissed.

"We must talk," he said, breaking their kiss.

"Of course," she said rising, "Follow me."

He followed her back through the bedroom, admiring her 
from behind. She led him to the fresher where a huge tub
was filling with hot water. "We can talk in here," she said
turning the water off.

Lia watched as Qui-Gon settled himself in the hot water,
dunking under to wet his hair. He sat up against the back
of the tub, extending a hand to her. As she joined him, she 
thought of the time, just a few nights ago, when she imagined
him here with her. Now here he was, she felt like she would
burst with happiness. She sat down between his long legs,
resting her back against his warm chest. He began stroking
her hair. She knew what he wanted to talk about, but waited 
for him to begin.

Qui-Gon took a deep breath, "I wonder if you realize what a
relationship with me might entail," he began. "There will be
times when I will be off planet, sometimes for months at a
time. I must go where the council sends me. It is part of my
duty."

Lia could feel the tension in his body as he spoke, "Then I
will wait patiently for your return," she said, taking his hand
and pressing it against her cheek.

"There may even come a time when I.."

"I know," she interupted, kissing his hand as tears began
to well up in her eyes. She blinked them quickly away.

"When I fail to return," he finished.

"Then I shall not waste a moment of my time with you," she 
said, turning her body around to face him. His blue eyes 
had a kind of sadness in them that almost broke her heart.
She sat up on her knees and taking his head in her 
hands, gently kissed one eye then the other. She then
moved to his mouth, where his lips met hers in a tender
kiss. She broke their kiss with a gentle bite to his bearded
chin. Looking into his eyes as she did so she saw the
sadness was replaced by desire and she felt that desire
in the form of his hardening penis pressing against her
thigh.

Qui-Gon leaned back in the tub, closing his eyes. He
savored the touch of her lips and tongue as she slowly
worked her way down his neck and across his throat.
Her fingers moved lightly over his shoulders and collar
bone, as if she were memorizing every inch of him. She
followed her fingers with her lips and teeth, kissing and
sometimes gently biting at places her hands had already
roamed. He moaned softly as her tongue teased a
nipple, causing the head of his engorged penis to peak
up out of the water.

Lia moved to the jedi master's other nipple, tasting and
kissing it. Her body ached for him, she would wait no 
longer. Straddling his body, she gripped the base of
his thick penis and slowly began to ease her slick
opening onto it.

Qui-Gon resisted the urge to thrust up into her, knowing
her body needed to adjust to his size. She was so
tight, he needed to concentrate to keep from coming
too soon. 

She rested her hands on his chest for support as she
finally took all of him into her. He was so large and filled
her so completely she to hold back the orgasm that
threatened to overtake her so soon. Arching her back 
she began riding up and down on him, picking up
speed as she went. The friction was delicious, hitting 
all the right places. A throaty scream escaped her lips
as she gave in to her climax.

Qui-Gon held her hips tightly, feverishly pumping into
her, ready for his release.

Lia screamed again as a second climax wracked
her body, sending Qui-Gon over the edge, shouting
as he filled her with his seed.

Lia collapsed, exhausted, onto Qui-Gon's chest. He
held her tightly to him, wishing he could do this for
the rest of his life.

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

Over the next few days, Qui-Gon worked with Obi-Wan
during the day, as was their routine, then after excusing
his apprentice for the day, he would go to Lia's quarters
in the wing of the temple that housed the non-jedi
employees. Sometimes she would be there waiting
for him, but often times he would finish the day before
her. He knew she loved her work in the temple library,
often being so wrapped up in what she was doing
she would lose track of the time.

Tonight he waited impatiently for her. He knew she
was sparring with Obi-Wan in the training room. He
had to talk to her about Obi-Wan. Lately he had
picked up on strong emotions coming from the
young man and directed at Lia. He could not blame
him for being attracted to her, but he sensed it was
more than just a physical attraction. He thought he
should prepare Lia in case Obi-Wan made his
feelings known to her, thereby keeping her from
being caught off guard and hopefully sparing the
boy's feelings. Qui-Gon and Lia had told no one
of their affair, wanting to keep their love private as
long as they were able.

Qui-Gon bathed quickly, wrapping a towel around 
his waist as he heard Lia dumping her workout
bag on the table in the other room. He entered
the living area, she smiled at the sight of him.

She ran to him, running her fingers through his
wet hair. His bare chest was still hot from his bath,
she could feel the heat radiating from him. "I missed
you today," she said as she stretched up to kiss
him. She ran her hands along his shoulders and 
down his chest to his stomach. She wanted him
now. He was so sexy like this, dressed only in a
towel, his magnificent chest and powerful legs
exposed. "I would have been here earlier," she
said running a finger along the top of his towel,
his arousal already evident, "but Obi-Wan would
not quit."

Qui-Gon was brought abruptly back from his
lusty haze by her last statement. "About Obi-Wan,"
he started as she continued to tease with her
fingers, "I think he has a...crush on you. I have
felt his feelings when he is near you."

"Obi-Wan!" she replied incredulously. "That's
impossible. We've known each other since we
were kids. You must be mistaken." She looked
thoughful for a moment as if considering 
something of great importance. "Enough about
Obi-Wan," she said, a naughty gleem in her
eye as she untied the towel around Qui-Gon's
waist, "Where was I?"

She pushed the jedi master back on to the sofa.
Staddling his lap, she kissed him hungrily as he
stripped her of the coverall she wore to work 
most days. Their tongues snaked together as 
Qui-Gon ran his hands up her thighs and
around to her buttocks, squeezing and 
massaging. She leaned into him at his touch,
still locked in their passionate kiss, savoring
his taste. She wanted to taste more. Her eyes
clouded with lust, she broke away from his
mouth, sliding off his lap to kneel in front of
him on the floor. She looked at his handsome
face and parted his muscular thighs with her
hands. He slid to the edge of the sofa, giving
her easier access. His chest heaved with his
heavy breathing, his erection calling out to her.
She gently moved her hands up his inner
thighs, following with her tongue. His musky
scent made her body hotter, she felt like an
animal.

He slid to her further, entwining his fingers in
her hair, watching her move. She was driving
him insane! Her mouth was everywhere but
the place he needed it most. She moved to his
tightened sac, taking it in her mouth, sucking.
Qui-Gon moaned as his penis oozed.

Lia moved to capture the escaping droplets
of pre-ejaculate with her tongue. Qui-Gon's
body shuddered as she lapped up the fluid,
dipping the tip of her tongue in the slit there.
She moved to the underside of his penis, 
licking her way to the head, eager to have
him in her mouth. She kissed the tip, causing
another moan to escape him, then slowly
deliciously lowered her mouth onto his aching
member. she descended as far as she could
then sucked hard all the way up. Down she
went again, one hand massaging his balls,
the other sliding up and down with her lips.
Qui-Gon arched up into her mouth hard, 
roaring as he exploded down her throat. She
swallowed his bitter juice, licking him clean.
One more kiss to the softened tip and she
smiled up at him.

"I will have my taste too," he said joining her
on the floor. She lay back as he moved between
her legs, immediately inserting a finger between
her folds. "So wet," he hummed, moving his
mouth to her mound of curls. He took her clitoris
in his lips and sucked hard sending her hips
bucking up and her head back. She squealed,
her body writhing in ecstacy as he brushed his
whiskered chin over her clit. He licked around
her folds, tasting her sweetness, drawing her
closer to the edge. She was panting for breath,
her eyes squeezed shut, muscles tightening
as he once again returned to her clitoris, sucking
and teasing it with his tongue. Her smell, her
taste, her arousal, all of these things brought
him to full erection again. He longed to drive
into her hard. She clutched at his head screaming
as her orgasm overtook her, sending wave after
wave of sweetness into Qui-Gon's waiting mouth.

Her climax had barely subsided when Qui-Gon
mounted her quickly. She wrapped her legs
around his hips, urging him on. His body
slapping against hers as he pumped harder 
and harder, filling her with the heat of his
release. She tasted herself on his lips as
he kissed her tenderly, their sweaty bodies
entwined on the floor.

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

The next evening Lia found Obi-Wan standing
outside her quarters when she returned home
from work.

"Have you got a minute?" he asked as she 
approached.

"Is something wrong?" she asked as they 
entered her apartment. 

"No," he looked around, something felt different
since he was here last. "I just wanted to talk."

"Sounds serious," she motioned for him to
sit on the sofa, then sat beside him. He chuckled
at her remark, playing nervously with the edge of
his robe. "What's on your mind?"

"I want," he began, "That is... I think I..." Without
warning, Obi-Wan kissed Lia's lips.

"Stop." she said, pushing him back. Qui-Gon
had been right! 

"I love you." he blurted, red faced. 

"Oh, Obi-Wan," she said trying to think, "I love
you too. But not like that. You're my best friend.
I'm sorry"

"I thought..." he was looking at the floor, "Before
you left we..."

"That was a long time ago. We were kids. We
weren't in love. We were having fun together."
He looked crushed. Lia tried to think of some
way to ease the blow. "You'll always be very
special to me." Wrong thing, she thought. "I'm
with someone now, Obi-Wan. I'm in love."

"I see," he said rising and heading for the door.

"I'm sorry, Obi-Wan," she said following him.
"We're still on for tomorrow night, right?"

"I guess." he answered quietly as the door 
slid closed between them.

Lia began to pace back and forth across
her small living room, thinking furiously.
Why didn't I listen to Qui-Gon? He knows
Obi-Wan better than anyone. I thought
Qui-Gon was picking up old memories
or feelings from when Obi-Wan and I were
young. It never occured to me that he could
be right. What was I thinking? Poor Obi-Wan.
When did things change for him? We should
never have had sex all those years ago. That
always messes up friendships. If I had not
come back to Coruscant none of this would
have happened. I would not have met Qui-Gon
though. Qui-Gon. She would have to tell him
about her past with Obi-Wan. Why didn't I
do it yesterday when he brought up his suspicions?
I guess I didn't know how. We've never talked 
about our past relationships. We've never talked
about anything in our pasts.

She continued pacing and worrying for some
time, stopping only when Qui-Gon arrived. 

"What's the matter?" he asked when he saw
the worry on her face. He went to her, wrapping
his arms around her.

She looked up at him, "Obi-Wan was here,"
she said, holding tightly to him. "He kissed
me."

Qui-Gon let out a deep breath he hadn't realized
he was holding. "I had hoped I was wrong."

"I told him I was involved with someone. I wasn't
sure if I should tell him about you or not."

"I will go and speak with him," he smiled down
at her.

"Before you go there is something I must tell
you," she began, feeling his body tense up.

Qui-Gon felt suddenly sick at the pit of his
stomach. He knew he did not want to hear
what was coming next.

"You know that I have known Obi-Wan most
of my life," she continued. "When we were
younger, I was 16, he was 15, we were both
worried about the fact that we were still virgins."
She watched his face grow pale. "So we had
sex."

He thought he would be ill. Removing her arms
from around his waist, he backed away.

The look of pain in his eyes brought tears to 
her own as she continued, desparate to make
him understand, "It meant nothing, we were
kids. We weren't in love we were just....
practicing." He was heading for the door.
"Please don't leave me!" she begged, tears
spilling down her face. "I love you!"

He would not look back. He wanted to say
something hurtful, but did not. "You should
have told me sooner," he said hoarsely as
he walked out.

Lia stood, watching the door close behind
him. Her tears continued to flow, she felt cold
and empty. "Qui-Gon," she cried quietly as 
she sank to the floor, sobbing.

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

What an old fool I am! Qui-Gon thought as he
stormed through the temple corridors, grateful
for the fact that no one approached him,
evidently sensing his mood. How could I let
myself believe that a girl of.... 22 would be in
love with me! What was I thinking! I was not
thinking, I was acting and reacting. I wonder
how many others at the temple she has 
"practiced" with. You were just another notch
on her headboard, you old fool.

Some time later Qui-Gon found himself in the
forests of the temple gardens, the artificial sun
setting. He sat heavily on a bench as darkness
fell, his heart aching. What a fool I was, he
thought again, falling in love with a child. I thought
the force led me to her, drove us together. Did I
want her or need her so much that I let myself
believe that? It seemed so true, so right.

"A fool you are if follow this path of doubt you do."
Yoda said, startling Qui-Gon, so lost in thought
he had failed to sense the small master's presence.
"Felt your anger and pain, I did. Led me to you, it
has. Center on your anxieties you should not. 
A gift, the Force has given you. Trust you must
have. Go now." With that said Yoda left, leaving
no room for argument.

Qui-Gon rose from the bench and thought, I am
a fool to let this.... incident come between us. My
ego, my pride..... they will be my downfall. He
started walking out of the forest, his long stride
getting him out of the gardens and into the corridor
quickly. He continued his musings as he retraced
his steps back to Lia's quarters. So she has had
sex with my padawan, he thought, it was six years
ago. I wish it hadn't happened but it did. How can
I blame her? They were friends, close friends. I
chose a friend for my first time. She should have 
told him sooner, but if she had would he have
acted differently? I don't know , he thought. I
only know we belong together. It was the force
that brought us together, how could I have doubted
it? Even Master Yoda could see it. I will more
understanding, I will make her forgive me. I will
not lose her. I can not!

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

Qui-Gon keyed in the code to open the door to Lia's
quarters. His heart pounded in his chest, he did not
know what to expect. The living room was in total
darkness when he entered, he took a moment to
let his eyes adjust. There she was, curled into a
little ball, lying on the sofa. "Tsalia," he said softly.

She awoke at the sound of his voice, she did not
know how long she had been asleep. She saw 
his tall silhouette outlined in the dark room. "I'm
here," she said sitting up, tears filling her eyes
again.

"I'm sorry," he began, moving toward the sofa,
"Please forgive me."

Lia propelled herself off the couch and into his
arms, "Qui-Gon!" she cried unable to stop the
flow of tears cascading down her face. "I'm sorry
too. I should have told you sooner," she sobbed.

Qui-Gon felt a wave of relief and happiness wash
over him, blinking back tears of his own.

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

They spent the rest of the night laying on the sofa
clinging tightly to each other, neither saying much.
Both very much aware of how close they came to 
losing each other and vowing never to let it happen
again.

As the morning sun shone through the small window
over the sofa, Lia broke the silence, "You know I
have been with other men since Obi-Wan."

"I assumed you had," he said lightly, "You did not
need to tell me."

"I wanted to."

"There have been a.... few.... women in my life," he
offered.

"I could tell," she smiled at him.

He chuckled and began idly playing with her hair.
"How is it you grew up here and weren't trained as
a jedi?" He asked.

She wondered when he would ask that. "My parents
were both jedi, active in the field I guess you would
say, they met and fell in love. When I was born they
decided to leave the Order so that I could have a
normal childhood. Master Yoda persuaded them to
stay on here as instructors. My mother taught fencing,
my father jedi myths and legends. I grew up with and
took classes with the initiates and apprentices until
about five years ago when we moved off Coruscant."

"Was your midichlorian level ever tested?" he asked.

"My parents wouldn't allow it to be done," she explained,
"I guess they were afraid they might have second thoughts
if they knew what my count was."

"Did you ever wish they had made a different choice?"

"No. I always felt I had the best of both worlds. I was sorry
for the other kids who never knew their parents." Lia said.

Qui-Gon kissed the top of her head, happier than he had
ever been. She smiled at him again, taking his breath
away. Her face was still a little puffy from last nights tears,
but still he thought her the most beautiful woman he had
ever seen. "I love you," he said, his blue eyes gazing into 
hers.

"I love you, too." She stretched up to kiss him, tears starting
to well up again.

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

It had been decided that Qui-Gon would talk to Obi-Wan
alone about the two of them. Lia had agreed with Qui-Gon
when he suggested that it may be easier and less
embarrassing for Obi-Wan this way.

Qui-Gon had felt Obi-Wan's gloomy mood all day and
when they returned to the quarters they shared at the
end of the day, the young man went straight to his
room. 

Qui-Gon stood in the doorway, watching his apprentice
sitting on the edge of his bed, head lowered. He hated
to see him hurting like this and the news he was about
to give the young man might even make him feel worse.
It has to be done, he told himself, better he hear it from
me than someone else. "May I speak with you, Obi-Wan?"
he asked sitting beside him.

Obi-Wan nodded, lifting his head. He looked at his master,
waiting for him to begin. He knew his performance had
been off all day. He had been unable to concentrate, 
only thinking of how he had made a fool of himself in front
of Lia. He sensed she did not feel for him like he did for
her, but he plunged ahead anyway. He didn't know if he 
could face her again.

"I'm sure you have noticed," the jedi master started, "That
I have been spending my nights elsewhere."

"Yes." Obi-Wan stated, not expecting this conversation. 
His master had spent nights out before, never so many
in a row though.

Qui-Gon put an arm around his apprentice's shoulder
and took a deep breath, not sure how to continue. "I
find that I have fallen in love," he said.

Obi-Wan's mouth fell open, his face a picture of wonder
and surprise as if he had just been witness to a miracle.

"It surprised me as well, Padawan." 

Obi-Wan could not have been more pleased for him.
He had noticed Qui-Gon had been in a good mood
lately, but he could never have imagined why. The
happiness he felt for his master brightened his spirit,
opening him up to a clarity that was missing in his 
gloom. It was Lia that Qui-Gon was in love with!

"Your insight serves you well, Obi-Wan," Qui-Gon
said, having picked up the thoughts of his apprentice.
"You know that neither one of us would ever purposely
hurt you. You are like a son to me, Padawan. I am
sorry you have been hurt. I blame myself, if I had not
been so wrapped up in my own feelings I could
have sensed yours earlier. I would never have 
acted on mine if I had known your feelings for Lia
sooner."

"I know, Master," the young man sighed, "It does 
not matter anyway because you are the one she
is in love with. I have never seen her happier."

Qui-Gon could not help but smile at this. "I will
do my best to see that she stays that way too,"
he said rising. "I believe Lia is waiting in the
training room for you, Padawan. Weren't you
supposed to meet her tonight?"

"Yes, Master. I'm going." Obi-wan answered,
heading out of his room. He stopped short
as he was about to exit their quarters and
turned to face Qui-Gon. "I am happy for you
Master."

The jedi master covered the distance between 
them in one long stride, embracing his apprentice,
he said, "I know you are, Obi-Wan."

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

Obi-Wan found Lia waiting in the training room.
She smiled at him as he approached. He could not
help but smile in return. He was happy for them. How
could he not be? These were the two people he
loved most.



THE END