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jedi_bounty
06-03-2003, 12:37 AM
Hey everyone! Please let me know what you think of my story. Feedback is always appreciated!

JB

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

Title: In My Father's Shadow
Author(s): Jedi Bounty
Timeframe: PT, AOTC
Characters: Characters will be added as they're introduced into the story.

Main Characters
Tiari Enam Kenobi
Amé Enam
Obi-Wan Kenobi

Minor Characters
Pati

Genre: OC, Romance, Angst, Action
Keywords: OC, Obi-Wan
Summary: Tiari is a girl who thinks she knows who she is, but doesn't know why she yearns for something more. Then the secret of her parentage is revealed and her life is turned upside down by her grandmother when she sends Tiari and her mother to Coruscant. Living in a galaxy on the brink of war Tiari and her mother must find their place in it all if they're to survive. The Clone Wars are about to begin.
Notes/Disclaimer: Please look for any additional notes above posts. All canon characters belong to George Lucas, otherwise they belong to me. If you want to borrow them, ask first please. I like to share.

*****
Preface
*****

Obi-Wan awoke, the still darkness surrounding him. For a second he couldn't remember where he was, or why there was a woman in his arms. Then it all came back to him; he was with Amé, beautiful Amé. He gently stroked her silky, dark brown tresses, reflecting on her intoxicating beauty. Waves of hair encircled her head, and her long dark lashes concealed deep brown eyes. Her full, red lip parted gently with each breath, her slender body, covered in seemingly flawless skin, was soft against his, and he loved her all the more.

Obi-Wan didn't want to ever leave her, but tomorrow brought a new day and with it a new mission. Earlier that day Obi-Wan's master, Qui-Gon Jinn, had received word from the Jedi Council, assigning him and Obi-Wan to another mission. Knowing it would be for the best for both him and Amé, Obi-Wan would follow his master. He gently caressed Amé's soft cheek with his fingertips, dreading the coming of the new day. Amé slowly stirred, responding to his touch.

"Hello love."

He smiled at the sound of her voice; it was so soft, rich, and perfect. Amé smiled with Obi-Wan. They sat like that for what seemed like eternity, just staring into each other’s eyes. The silence lay heavily around them, as if feeling for the lovers who now spent their last night together. Amé suddenly laughed, breaking the thick silence.

"What's so funny?" Obi-Wan asked her, a confused look on his face. Was she laughing at him?

"Oh, Obi-Wan!" Amé exclaimed, wrapping her arms around him, "I just realized how much I truly, deeply love you."

With that, she burst into tears. "After tomorrow I'll never see you again," she sobbed, "how will I ever live without you?"

Obi-Wan held her chin in his hand, looking deep into her dark, dreamy eyes, "You may never see me again Amé, but I'll always be with you," Obi-Wan pointed to her heart, "I'll always be right here."

She nodded, "It's for the best; you are a Jedi through and through. I couldn't live with myself if I took you from that."

Obi-Wan held her as she buried her face into his shoulder. Slowly he lowered his head to rest it atop hers. There they sat, his hot tears running down her hair.


*****
Chapter 1
*****

Tiari watched as her mother gently wiped specks of dust from the glass picture frames. They were old frames, ones made of either wood or metal with complex designs wrought in them. In the middle was a picture, covered by a sheet of glass. Her mother had collected them for as long as Tiari could remember. She kept all of her special pictures in the frames, though she also kept a holographic copy of each as a back up. Each frame was different and every picture showed the same people at their various ages, Tiari, Mother, Grandfather and Grandmother, and Father. Each picture was the same, except one. Hidden in the back, closest to Mother's bed, was a picture of another man, a younger looking man. Tiari had never asked Mother about the man; there had never been a need to.

Tiari watched as Mother tenderly cleaned a picture of Father. Tiari had been fourteen when Father's ship had crashed, taking his life with it. Although she missed him, they had never been very close. Tiari didn't want to seem like an unloving child, but her father's death hadn't been as catastrophic to her as a similar even was to other children. No, Tiari had always been closer to her mother than to her father, and she had always had her tutor, Linu.

Her mother picked up another picture, the one of the other man, and started to rub the dust off the glass. Tiari watched, her curiosity soon kicking in. Gathering her courage, she touched her mother's shoulder, turning her around.

"Who is that Mother?" Tiari asked, pointing to the picture.

Her mother paused, surprise in her eyes. Tiari had never asked about the picture before. Slowly she finished rubbing the dust from the frame and set the picture carefully down from where she had taken it.

"Why do you care who he is, Tiari?" her mother, Amé, asked, her voice soft. "You've never cared before."

"I've never had the opportunity, or thought, to ask before," Tiari answered.

"Well," she began, "he was, and probably still is, a Jedi Knight."

"Really?" Tiari asked, leaning forward. She had always been interested in the Jedi; her mother had told her bedtime stories when she was a little girl about those defenders of peace and justice in the galaxy.

Mother leaned forward, her nose brushing Tiari's. "Yes, really," she answered with a small laugh. "He really was a Jedi." Mother looked at Tiari, noticing the look on her face and sighed, "I guess you'll want to hear the whole story now, won't you?"

Tiari nodded, her face ecstatic with anticipation.

"Very well then, I'll start at the beginning. I first met him years ago when I was your age. He and his master had been sent to protect your grandmother, who at the time was the High Princess of Manket. She had recently had many attempts on both her life and the lives of those in her family. Your grandfather had been gone for three years, or at least most of the three years, on his diplomatic visits. Anyways, I disguised myself as one of my mother's guards, both to keep my identity from people who visited my mother and to protect my life from the ever-present danger. Truly, not many people knew that High Princess Kina even had a daughter. The Jedi were to escort my mother off planet to Coruscant. I traveled as a guard on the ship. By the time we got to Coruscant, the Jedi and I were already favorite enemies. He didn't like how I did things and I didn't like how he wanted to do things," suddenly Mother stopped, senses on alert. "Do you smell something Tiari?"

Tiari sniffed the air. There was a smoky, burning smell coming from the kitchen. "Dinner is burning!"

Tiari rushed to the kitchen, her mother close behind her. Both ran to the oven and took out their dinner, a now black, smoking, charred chunk of who knew what. Tiari looked at her mother, and on mental, mutual agreement they threw their dinner in the trash. Just then the comm. light started blinking. Tiari crossed the room and answered it.

"Hello?"

"Hi, Tiari? This is Pati, me and some of the other girls are going out for dinner, do you want to come?"

"Just a second," Tiari turned to her mother, "Is it alright if I go Mother, I mean, it doesn't look like there's going to be any dinner tonight."

"Sure hon, just be home by eleven, and don't get into trouble."

Tiari turned back to the comm., "Sure, I'd love to come. Are you going to come get me, or do you want me to meet you somewhere?"

"I'll come get you, in fact I'm already there." Tiari heard a horn out front.

"Ok, I'm coming." She turned off the comm. unit and, after giving her mother a quick goodbye, ran towards the door. She skidded to a stop as something more crossed her mind. She turned to face her mother.

"Oh, and mom, we really need to get a comm. with a holo projector."

Her mother laughed and waved her on. Tiari smiled and went out the door. Outside was a flashy new speeder, fresh red paint and all.

"Pati, where'd you get this?" Tiari asked.

"It's my parents' new speeder. They told me that if I was careful I could use it tonight," Pati winked at Tiari. "Don't you want to catch the boys eye's? Especially Ryan's?"

Tiari giggled, "Come on Pati, you know I don't like Ryan anymore."

"Sure you don't," Pati replied sarcastically. "C'mon, let's go. I don't want to be late."

Tiari jumped into the speeder.

"Late for what?"

"Oh, you'll see. Now let's go."

Pati checked the chrono nervously. Then, right as Tiari closed her door, she pulled out of the driveway and sped down the road.

*****

Amé flopped down on her bed, a sigh of pleasure escaping her lips. She had finally finished cleaning the kitchen and now was free to do whatever she wanted. Tiari was gone, and probably would be for a few more hours. At the thought of Tiari, she looked over at her pictures, the one of the Jedi in particular. She had wanted to tell Tiari about him for a long time, but only when her daughter asked. Why then, Amé wondered, had she been so hesitant to reveal the truth today when she finally had the opportunity? She was hiding nothing from her daughter; especially this story, for it directly involved her.

Amé slowly picked up the picture and stared at it. What had ever happened to him, she wondered. She hadn't talked to him for seventeen years. Choosing the path of the Jedi, as he had through her pressing, didn't allow him to keep personal acquaintances long, let alone lovers. He hadn't known her secret then, if he had he wouldn't have left, wouldn't have returned to the path she knew he belonged on. He hadn't known that inside of her life blossomed, the life of the young girl who was now the joy in her own life.

"Oh, Obi-Wan," Amé sighed, "if only circumstances were different then we could have been together." Amé looked at the picture of her daughter, comparing it to that of Obi-Wan, something she found herself doing more and more often. The older Tiari grew the more she looked like her, although her most striking features belonged to her true father. She had his keen grey-blue eyes, his gentle temperament, unless, of course, circumstances demanded otherwise, and a slightly darker version of his ginger colored hair. Still though, Tiari's nose, mouth, and body came from her mother.

Amé sighed, the past was the past; she would probably never see Obi-Wan again. She had her daughter and was grateful for that. Putting both pictures back, Amé turned off the light and went to bed.

*****

When Tiari arrived home that night, her mother was already asleep. Sneaking past her door, Tiari slipped into her own room. While she was getting ready for bed, she thought of earlier that day. It suddenly occurred to her that her mother had never finished telling her about the Jedi in the picture. All she knew was that they had disagreed on many issues.

She quickly brushed off the memory and turned her thoughts back to that evening. She had been surprised to find that Pati and her other friends had thrown a party. I hadn't been for anyone in particular, just a get-together type party. Every one of her friends was there, including Ryan. He had been her old crush, and until tonight she had still had a small crush on him. Tonight though, she had seen him with Leti, the new girl with bright blonde hair and deep blue eyes. Tiari couldn't figure out why Ryan even gave that girl a second chance, everything about her was fake, but a small part of her was grateful to him for it. When she had seen them together tonight, she had known once and for all that she was over Ryan.

Tiari felt freer than she ever had in her life. Not liking anyone was the perfect way for her to go; it made life so much easier. Now she didn't care about impressing anyone, just herself.

Smiling at this newfound revelation, Tiari climbed into bed and turned off her light. Her last thought as she drifted off to sleep was I should ask Mother again tomorrow to tell me about the Jedi.

padmeamidala
06-03-2003, 06:07 PM
<span style="font-size:36pt;line-height:100%">OH MY GOSH! </span> This is AWESOME! I love it soooo much, please don't be like the other fanfics that stop right when I get into it! I can't WAIT to read more!!!!!! style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/w00t.gif

Rogue gal
06-03-2003, 07:16 PM
This is pretty cool. I hope you add some more coz I'll track this one. Casts a new light on the 'oh so straight' Obi-wan. style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/thumbsup.gif

While you're reading this thread, can you help me out coz I'm plodding about getting used to this site. How do I get a quote of my choice to appear under my avatar? hope you can help.

padmeamidala
06-04-2003, 05:31 PM
On your control panel, under "Edit Profile Info" there's a spot for "Custom Member title" where you can type in something. Right now, it says "Padawan Learner" just type in what you want.... style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/hehe.gif

jedi_bounty
06-12-2003, 12:35 PM
padmeamidala Thank you! I'm not going to stop as long as people keep reading. I'm sorry it took so long for an update though, my beta's been busy.

Rogue gal Thank you. I'll be adding more hopefully once a week.

jedi_bounty
06-12-2003, 12:35 PM
*****
Chapter 2
*****

The tension in the room was thick. Queen Kina of Manket sat upon her throne, her eyes staring into nothingness. All around her aids and scribes stood or sat, waiting for her to speak. She had a problem, in order to keep her throne and the good will of the people she needed to go to Coruscant to fight the proposed Army of the Republic. She didn't want to go, in fact, she refused to go. Her claim was that her people here needed her, but her real reason was she didn't want to leave her planet for a second. It was here that all of her wealth and power was, without it she would be nothing. If she was to leave and the people rose up with her presence gone she would be left with nothing.

Her aids had provided her with a way to not have to leave, and still keep the people happy. She could appoint someone to go in her place, someone to represent Manket in the vote. Now her only problem was finding someone to do that. It had to be someone the people would trust, but someone who she knew would do what she told them too. It needed to be a person who didn't know a lot about Manket, and would take her word for anything. Names flew through her head, but none fit all the requirements.

"Your Highness?" the braver of the aids spoke up.

"What?" Kina snapped, angry at having her thoughts interrupted.

"Your Highness, could your daughter, Amé go for you?"

"What do you think?" Kina screamed at him, rising out of her chair. Then the idea really hit her, why couldn't Amé go for her. She fit all the requirements, the people would trust her because she was Kina's daughter, she hadn't touched foot on Manket in ten years, and, because Amé was her daughter, Kina was confident she would trust her word.

Looking at the cringing men and women around her Kina smiled, she loved the power she had over these weak-minded people. They feared her, but worshipped her. She had brought prosperity to Manket, if only through her own dealings. Illegal trades were nothing to her, as long as they helped her to gain power, and to gain power one needed to bring prosperity to the people.

"Yes, she would work," Kina spoke in a soft, soothing voice. Then looking at the head aid, the woman, Violé, she demanded, "Go find her, I will contact her tonight."

The woman bowed and hurried out of the room. Kina sat back in her chair and contentedly stroked the arm of her throne, a conniving smile on her face.

*****

Amé sat at the table, content after eating a large breakfast. She leaned back and watched Tiari clear their breakfast dishes. Tiari had almost reached the sink when one of the dishes fell from her hands, but instead of shattering on the floor the plate stopped only inches away, as if grabbed by an invisible hand. Then it floated toward the sink, unharmed. Amé gasped, despite herself.

"What is it Mother?" The concern in Tiari's voice was visible as she asked.

Amé took a deep, calming breath. "I had just forgotten about your force powers, that's all. You haven't used them for so long, not since Linu left."

Tiari nodded, a dreamy look clouding her eyes. Amé knew she was thinking about Linu, the humanoid woman who had taught Tiari to use her force powers. After she had left Tiari had thought that it didn't seem right to use them anymore, and she hadn't since then; at least, not until now. Her mother had become fast friends with Linu at one point in her life. Linu had offered her services in helping Amé with Tiari, which included training her in the basics of the force, for the first ten years of her life in between her sparsely assigned missions.

"Mother," Tiari asked while sitting in the chair across from her, "will you finish telling me about the Jedi?"

Amé paused, taken aback by the question. Slowly an idea formed in her head, a sort of bargain for her story.

"I'll tell you the story, if you tell me what you did last night."

Tiari gazed at her, her eye's wide with shock. Amé smiled, her daughter should know by now that mothers had eyes in the back of their heads. The surprise faded from Tiari's face, although not from her eyes and she relented.

"I was at a party," she answered, a slight blush gracing her features. "Pati didn't tell me it was a party though when she asked if I wanted to go, she only said we were going to dinner!"

Amé couldn't help but feel sorry for Tiari. She thought she was in trouble by the look on her face. In reality though, for as sorry as she felt for her daughter, Ame' thought it just as funny. She started to laugh.

"You don't have to proclaim your innocence to me Tiari!"

Tiari blushed even harder, and a silly smile found its place on her face. Amé smiled and surrendered, kindly asking, "Do you want to hear the long story or the short story?"

"Long story," Tiari said without hesitation, immediately perking up.

"Alright then, like I said yesterday, we met when he came to protect your grandmother on her trip to Coruscant, and I was disguised as a guard, the one who was constantly defying his decisions. When we reached Coruscant I was sure we'd finally be rid of him and his master once and for all. Their mission was over and we no longer needed their help." Amé smiled, "I was wrong though, about both things. Obi-Wan and his master reported to the Jedi Council and were reassigned to protect my mother while she stayed on Coruscant."

"Obi-Wan?"

"The Jedi in the picture, Qui-Gon's padawan."

"Qui-Gon? Padawan?"

"Qui-Gon Jinn was Obi-Wan's master and a padawan is a Jedi learner."

"Oh, I see now." Tiari nodded, "Please go on."

"As I was saying, they were assigned to protect us yet again, and you can imagine my feelings when Qui-Gon and his stubborn Padawan showed up at our door again, though I think they, or at least Obi-Wan, were just as pleased. For the first week all Obi-Wan and I did was fight, I didn't like how he wanted to do things and he didn't like how I did things, keep in mind that I was still disguised as a guard at the time." Amé smiled. "After that first week we reached a truce, we decided to work with each other, not against, because as it was we were sabotaging each other's security measures and things were starting to go berserk. It's amazing how one decision can change a life. We grew to be friends and allies that second week. I didn't do anything without first consulting him, and he didn't do anything without at least getting my opinion, I think. By the third week I finally admitted to myself I was in love. The feeling was both exhilarating and scary. I was young, only seventeen."
Ame' sighed, lost in her memories.
"Anyways, I found out that Obi-Wan was in love with me too, though at first I coudn't believe it. It's forbidden for a Jedi to love, and Obi-Wan was a Jedi through and through. I thought he was teasing me, leading on a young girl for fun, but then he confessed how he had tried and tried to resist falling in love with me. After he told me that I tried my hardest not to love or encourage him, but he wasn't fooled. We both tried to destroy it, but our love was too strong. I revealed my true identity to him, and he stayed away after that, partly because I was my mother's daughter and partly because, by sticking with my disguise, I had lied to him. Just when I thought I had lost him forever he came back to me, and that night he came back to me we spent together."

Amé stopped, blushing at sharing such memories with her daughter. Tiari didn't care though; she just wanted to hear the rest of the story.

"Well, what happened next?"

"We spent another week on Coruscant before we left for home. Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan were assigned to escort us home. We parted lovers the night before they left, not thinking we'd ever see each other again. He wanted to leave the Jedi, to stay with me, but I convinced him otherwise. Being a Jedi was part of him; I wouldn't have him give it up for me. So he left, and I haven't seen him since." Amé stopped, the emotion thick in her voice.

"Is there more?" Tiari asked studying her mother's face, "There is more, I just know there is. There's something you haven't told me."

Amé sighed, "Yes, there is more. You see, after he left I found out that I was pregnant. I didn't want him to know, I couldn't let him know. I knew him well enough to know that he would leave the Jedi if he knew, causing him a greater sorrow than never knowing of his child, so I only told my mother. When I told her she was happy, but also in a rage. If I had a child without being married I'd bring disgrace upon our family. My mother knew the son of a well-respected businessman, and after some hasty arrangements we were married. The man I wed was your adopted father, although before we were wed I told him my story. He was a kind and loving man and didn't care that I was pregnant with another man's child; he said he'd treat the child as his own. We had been married only five months and the baby was born, there was some talk among the people, but it soon died down on account of we didn't give them any proof in their rumors." Amé stopped; she had watched Tiari's eyes grow larger and larger as her story continued, realization dawning on her face.

"And this baby," Tiari said, her voice shaky, "was it a girl?"

"Yes."

"Me?" her voice came out in a squeak.

"Yes Tiari," Amé smiled slightly and rested her hand on Tiari's shoulder. "Now you know what I've wanted you to know for a long time."

"So, Father wasn't really my true father, it was a Jedi named Obi-Wan?"

"Yes, Obi-Wan Kenobi."

"That is where my force powers come from?"

"Yes."

Tiari stood up, shaking Amé's hand off her shoulder, "I think I need to go to my room."

padmeamidala
06-14-2003, 09:26 PM
Aha! AWESOME! style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/w00t.gif I LOVE it! pleeeeeese keep going!

jedi_bounty
06-17-2003, 06:28 PM
padmeamidala Thank you so much! I love it when people are enthusiastic about my stories!

This next post is a memory, a flashback in the middle of the story.

*****
Memories 1
*****

Obi-Wan wandered through the halls of the large ship, thinking back on the past twenty-five days. It seemed only a week ago that he and his master, Qui-Gon Jinn, had arrived on Manket, having been assigned to protect the royal diplomatic party on their journey to Coruscant. High Princess Kina had been the one chosen to make the journey on behalf of her planet, and with her she dragged along over two units of the royal guard, five other diplomats, and her own personal guard. Obi-Wan smiled at the thought of her personal guard. It consisted of only one person, and she ran everything that had anything to do with Kina. Her name was Amé and she was the most annoying girl he had ever met. In all his five years of being a Jedi Padawan he had never met anyone so headstrong and irritating. Over the past three and a half weeks he had gotten to know her better though.

When they had first taken off towards Coruscant Qui-Gon had told him to work with the girl when matters concerned the security of the High Princess. For every suggestion Obi-Wan made, Amé had blown him off and let him know that it was her way or the highway. He had thought he would go crazy working with her! When the ship reached Coruscant he believed that finally he would be rid of her; that Qui-Gon and he would be assigned to another mission.

Of course, as fate would have it, this had not happened. They spent three weeks on Coruscant, all of which seemed to be with Amé for him. Qui-Gon had been busy consulting with the High Princess, Jedi Council, and Supreme Chancellor, and every time he was gone it was up to Obi-Wan to stay and protect Kina and her entourage.

Then during the second week he and Amé had reached an unofficial truce concerning how they did things. They agreed to consult each other, at least listening to the other's ideas, even if they didn't accept them, before doing anything. That week had run smoothly for him thanks to their truce. The third week had gone much the same, with the exception of him noticing her beauty for the first time. She didn't have just a physical beauty, but a spiritual one too. In fact, she reminded him of another girl he had known, the only other girl he had ever felt anything other than friendship for, Cerci.

Now Obi-Wan was sad to leave her. He knew this would be the last time he'd ever see her, for tomorrow they would reach Manket. He took a deep breath to steady himself and rethought what he was about to do. He wanted to say goodbye to her, privately. Qui-Gon wouldn't be happy if he knew; he would think Obi-Wan's intentions less than admirable. It was late at night and Obi-Wan knew the only place he would find her would be in her room on the large luxury ship.

He knocked on the sleek door and listened for any movement behind it. After only a moment of waiting the door swooshed open to reveal a young girl, clad only in a sheer robe and a sleeveless, above the knee, nightgown. Her hair was let down, the brown waves reaching far down her back, but on her youthful, lovely face a look of worry resided.

"What is it? Is someone hurt?"

"No," Obi-Wan answered. "I'm sorry I disturbed you, but I needed to say goodbye."

Amé's face immediately relaxed and she stepped to the side. "If that's the case, please come in."

Obi-Wan smiled and stepped inside. He was amazed by the spaciousness of her room. Only Kina and the other diplomats had rooms this large on the ship! Amé saw him staring and looked at the ground, embarrassed.

"Please sit down Obi-Wan," she gestured to the bed. He sat down, his mind running through possibilities of the size of the room, but only for a moment. Of course she had a large room,. she was the High Princess's personal guard after all. Then he remembered the real reason he had come. He looked at Amé and smiled a sad smile. Amé sat next to him and returned the smile.
"Amé," Obi-Wan began, "this is the last time I'll ever see you, and I couldn't let you go without saying goodbye."

Amé nodded, "Yes, I had realized that. You've been a great friend Obi-Wan."

Obi-Wan saw the sparkling of tears in her eyes, "Amé, is something wrong?"

"No," Amé denied. Then she saw the unbelieving look on Obi-Wan's face. "Well, yes. There is something wrong. I don't want to see you leave Obi-Wan, I'll miss you so much."

Obi-Wan nodded, "Yes, I feel the same Amé. I don't want to leave, but I must."

"Yes, you must Obi-Wan," Amé nodded. "You're a Jedi, that's your life."

"Oh, but how I wish it weren't at this moment." Obi-Wan studied her face, "There's still something wrong; I can see it in your face. What is it?"

"It's just, well, I feel so horrible Obi-Wan, so mad at myself, both for keeping this secret from you and from the truth of it. There's something I must tell you,”Amé took a deep breath. "I'm sorry I haven't told you before, but I swore to my mother I wouldn't. Obi-Wan, Kina is my mother."

Obi-Wan couldn't do anything but sit there with his mouth open. He felt as if the world had fallen out from beneath him. How could this beautiful woman in front of him be the daughter of the princess he and his master were protecting? It just wasn't a plausible thought to him. Then another thought struck him, Amé had lied to him. She had deceived him ; this woman whom he thought he had loved had already betrayed him.

He slowly stood and walked to the door.

"Obi-Wan," Amé pleaded, standing behind him, "please don't be mad. I only did it to protect myself and my mother."

Obi-Wan whirled around, "And did you need to protect yourself from me? Did you need to lie to me?"

"Obi-Wan, I never meant to hurt you."

"Well, you did Amé," Obi-Wan said, his voice choked with tears. He reached out his hand to open the door, but he couldn't see through the unbidden tears that rolled from his eyes. He placed his hand on the door to steady himself instead, but slowly his will gave out and he sank down the door. He huddled in a ball there, at the bottom, the hot tears coming from his eyes. Amé softly knelt next to him and wrapped her arms around his shaking form, comforting him all she could. Obi-Wan felt helpless, like a child scared and lost.

"Obi-Wan," Amé whispered, "I'm sorry, I really didn't mean to hurt you. I don't want to ever hurt you love."

Obi-Wan shook his head, "No, it's not just you, it's everything. It's my whole life. I feel like it's all falling apart. I feel my master doesn't trust me like he used to anymore, all my friends are leaving me, and now you."

Obi-Wan buried his face in his arms, ashamed to be crying in front of Amé. The more he tried to stop the more tears came.

He felt Amé gently lift him up and lead him to her bed. He couldn't see anything between the flowing tears, could only feel her touch leading him. He sat on the bed and she sat next to him, her arms still wrapped about him. Obi-Wan slowly leaned his head onto her shoulder, his eyes stared blankly ahead, though tears still fell from them. Amé leaned her head over his, still holding him. They sat like that for what seemed like an eternity, but was in reality only a few minutes. Then Amé lifted her head.

"Obi-Wan,” she whispered, "you're a great person. I know your master still trusts you, I can see it in how he treats you and talks with you. I don't know any of your friends, but I'm sure they wouldn't leave you unless they had to. And as for me, well, I think I love you."

Obi-Wan's head lifted and he looked deep into her eyes.

"You," he whispered in disbelief, his voice choked with tears, “you love me?"

Amé nodded and leaned forward slowly. Obi-Wan drew closer, and their lips touched. The kiss lasted for only a second, a sweet brush of their lips, but it was enough for each of them to know what the other felt, enough for them to show what was inside. Amé smiled as she opened her eyes. It was returned by a small smile from the man across from her. Then, without any thought, Obi-Wan leaned down and laid his head on her lap. She gently ran her fingers through his hair as she would a small child, while he silently cried; he cried for sadness, he cried for joy, he cried for everything.

Finally he had no tears left to cry. His eyes felt red and swollen, but the dark cloud that had covered his spirit was gone, and Obi-Wan felt free again. He lifted his head and looked at Amé. Her deep brown eyes met his, and he saw into her very soul. He leaned forward, drawn by a force he could not explain, and she did the same. Their lips brushed each other’s, and slowly the kiss deepened. Obi-Wan wrapped his arms around Amé and pulled her closer.

All reason ceased to exist. Amé pulled away from the kiss and sank onto the bed. There, lying on her back, she gazed up at Obi-Wan, the man she loved. Her hand found his collar, and she pulled him closer to her, giving him another kiss. Obi-Wan moved and laid down besides her, just gazing at her in all her beauty. Then wrapping his arms around her, he pulled her to him.

Jango
06-20-2003, 01:24 AM
this is great

jedi_bounty
06-21-2003, 12:19 AM
Yay! A new reader! Thanks for the comment Jango.

I've been gone so I haven't had time to work on the next post, but I'll try to hurry now that I'm back. style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/rolleyes.gif

padmeamidala
06-23-2003, 04:56 PM
Originally posted by jango@Jun 20 2003, 04:24 AM
this is great
^Understatement!!! style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/w00t.gif This is AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!

jedi_bounty
06-24-2003, 08:41 PM
padmeamidala Thanks! You really help keep my spirits up. A new post soon.

jedi_bounty
06-24-2003, 09:20 PM
*****
Chapter 3
*****

Tiari stared out her window watching the long grass blow in the playful breezes of the planet Kanja; this was where Tiari's mother had moved to when her husband died. It was said that pilgrims from Naboo had settled Manket, and that would explain why Manket's government ran much the same way as Naboo's. They elected their King or Queen who served for the rest of their life, unless the people called for a revote when the ruler could be dethroned. Then there was a High Prince or High Princess elected, they were second to the King or Queen. Tiari's grandmother had been the High Princess for years, while King Linux lived. He had been one of the finest leaders the Manketan people ever had. They wanted to replace him with someone who would rule like him, in kind sternness, and they found that in Tiari's grandmother, Kina, who still ruled to this day.

Oh Grandmother, Tiari thought, did you know what would happen when you accepted the Jedi's help? What it would bring on?

Of course she had known; in fact, she had probably wanted her daughter to fall in love with the Jedi and have a baby. At the thought Tiari felt lost, her whole past, her whole heritage, had been stripped from her in what had seemed like seconds. For seventeen years Tiari had thought she knew who she was, Tiari Enam, daughter of one of the most respected and wealthy businessmen of Manket. Now though, she didn't know who she was. From what her mother had told her she was Tiari Kenobi, daughter of a Jedi Knight, but was she? What truly made a man a father and a girl his daughter? Was her father the man who helped bring her into being or was he the man who had raised her?

Tiari sighed, she would probably never know. Would probably never know this Jedi, Obi-Wan Kenobi. This turn of events did explain though, in a small way, why she had never been close to her father, or rather, Dylin Enam. He had known she wasn't his, had probably spent sleepless nights wondering why he was supporting a girl who wasn't his child, wondering why he had married a woman who had already been unfaithful. Tiari had truly loved him as a father, they had just been...distant.

Standing up Tiari studied her reflection in her mirror. Red rimmed her eyes and tears stained her cheeks. She cleaned off her face, not wanting her mother to worry for her or feel that it was her fault. Tiari needed to ask her many things, about the Jedi, would she ever meet him, and above all, did she still love him?

*****

Amé was worried. Tiari had come from her room only moments ago and had said she wanted to ask her something. Now they sat in silence, Amé waiting for Tiari to talk. Tiari had locked herself in her room for hours after Amé had told her who her true father was. Silently she searched her daughter's face, looking for some trace of the heavy emotions that must be whirling inside of her, but like her father Tiari had a very strict control on her emotions and nothing showed on her face.

Tiari suddenly sighed and shifted slightly. Slowly she turned toward Amé, looking her in the eye.

"Mother, do you think I'll ever get to meet this Jedi? My father?"

"I don't know dear," Amé replied with a sigh, "remember there's no way he even knows you exist. I never told him, and only my mother and Dylin knew and I know they never told him. Though maybe someday, if you travel to Coruscant, you can meet him."

"I think I might like to meet him sometime, but not tell him who I am." Tiari said with a wink and a smile. "At least until I know if I would like him as my father or not." Tiari's smile faded as her next question formed, "Mother, did you, no, do you love him?"

Amé sighed, she had known this question was coming, how couldn't it have been? Tiari wanted to know if she had truly loved the man she had thought was her father until that morning, Dylin. Carefully she choose her words, "I do love him Tiari, just as much as I did all those years ago, but I loved Dylin too, it was just a different kind of love."

"What is the difference between love and love? You can't claim to love one man and then turn around and say it about another."

"Yes you can," Amé shot back, standing up for herself, "I loved Obi-Wan with the passion of youth. I found true love in him just as he found it in me. When I married Dylin at first I didn't love him, he was just the kind man I lived with, my friend. As time wore on I found myself developing a love for him, a mature love, one that springs from knowing that no matter how bad things get I'd always have someone there for me. I dearly love both of them, just in different ways. Think of the difference between how I love you and how a woman loves a man. They're different, yet they come from the same source."

Tiari sat, thinking about it. She had never heard of anyone who loved two men the same, yet differently. Yes, her mother had loved Dylin, not a passionate love, but a friendly love. Mother had given her passion to Obi-Wan seventeen years ago while accompanying her mother to Coruscant.

Amé watched Tiari stand up and walk towards the door, "Where are you going?"

"For a walk."

The door shut and Tiari was gone. Amé stood and walked to the kitchen, looking for something to do, something to keep her mind from worrying about Tiari.

*****
Chapter 4
*****

"Daddy! Help me! Daddy!"

Obi-Wan ran towards the sound of the girl's voice. He had no idea where he was; fog covered everything and the ground underneath him was soft, like dirt. Not knowing where he was going, Obi-Wan followed the voice, trying to reach the source behind it; yet knowing it would be too late. Suddenly the cry for help ceased and an eerie silence took its place. Obi-Wan stopped, he looked around trying to see where he was but the thick fog still covered everything.

"Help! Daddy!"

He heard the scream again, only this time it was cut short. A slight breeze moved past his feet, slowly growing larger and flying higher. The fog was soon cleared away by the growing breeze and only ten feet to his left Obi-Wan could see the girl, a young woman in reality, sprawled on the ground, her face covered by her hair. The wind died down to nothing but a soft whisper, but that was also soon gone. He approached the body slowly, cautiously. Then, when he was within arms reach of the girl he reached out and grabbed her shoulder. He gave her a small shake, but the girl didn't respond. Worried for her life, Obi-Wan slowly turned her over to see her face.

"Help me daddy, help me!"

The mocking voice caused Obi-Wan to drop the girl, stumbling back in an attempt to run. He watched as she rose from the ground, slowly and silently, her back turned to him. When she turned to face him he expected to see the face of a young woman, instead it was a hideous face covered with black and red tattoos. Obi-Wan looked at the face, not believing what he saw. The rest of the girl slowly transformed into the hideous monster he had battled that day on Naboo, so long ago.

"I'll kill her and you too, Jedi," the voice that was only a scream from his past said, "just like I killed your master."

"Nooooo!" Obi-Wan screamed, the insane laughter of the Sith drowning out all other sounds.

Suddenly he awoke, only to find himself in his bed in his room at the Jedi Temple. His sheets were all in disarray, sweat poured from his face, and his breathing came heavily. He glanced around his room, making sure it was only a dream. Anakin was still asleep in the room next to his, as was the rest of the temple. Quietly Obi-Wan climbed out of bed, taking care not to disturb anything or anyone who might sense his thoughts.

Settling down onto the floor he prepared himself for meditation. That dream he'd had; he'd been having it for just over a week now, and it always ended the same way, with the Sith Lord who'd killed his former master, Qui-Gon Jinn.

padmeamidala
06-25-2003, 04:58 PM
Awesome! Keep it up!

jedi_bounty
07-07-2003, 11:55 PM
Thanks padmeamidala, and I am keeping it up. It's just, I'm having a hard time with this next post, and my betas are gone on vacation, so I've decided to wait until they get back instead of posting something really bad. I think I should have it done in another week, two at the most.

JB

padmeamidala
07-08-2003, 03:32 PM
Hey, no sweat! Good job! style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/hehe.gif

Rogue gal
08-18-2003, 06:58 PM
It's been a long time! Only just picked story up again.
Nice one! Look forward to the next slot

P.S. what's a beta??? style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/huh.gif

Zane Marit
08-18-2003, 08:06 PM
A beta is someone that reads his story and gives him advice on sentence structure/grammar issues. Its like a proofreader.

Pretty good story by the way...Keep it coming.

style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/saber.gif