Chapter 11
Two months later…
Allysia sat up and stretched as the ship came out of hyperspace. That meant they were coming up on Coruscant. Soon she would be home, and Qui-Gon would be waiting for her.
With his encouragement, she had accepted the mission to Illum to start a Healer's Wing at the Jedi Temple there. Several Jedi healers had come with her and they would remain there permanently while she had been allowed to return once they'd gotten the project off the ground. When she'd left, they were progressing nicely, taking in injured Jedi Knights and treating them. She knew there would be times when she'd have to go to Illum to deliver medical supplies on occasion, but she knew it would be fine.
As long as Qui-Gon's always waiting for me, she thought.
Even though he'd pledged himself to her soon after their reconciliation, he was not one to be idle. While she'd been on Illum, he and his apprentice had undertaken a mission to Tatooine, helping to keep the fragile peace there after the Hutts had been overthrown from their gangster power. While there, they'd found an orphaned baby who seemed to exhibit Force-sensitivity. According to the local authorities, the baby boy's name was Kitster Banai and his family had been killed when they refused to do business with the Hutts. The baby was about five months old, three months younger than Anakin Skywalker, and they decided to bring him back to the Jedi Temple for testing. If he was a Force-sensitive baby, little Anakin would have a new playmate.
She smiled as she remembered his last transmission to her about the new baby. Kitster's midichlorian count had been high; not as high as Anakin's, but high enough to be welcomed into the Jedi Order. Shmi, who was still nursing Anakin, had more than enough milk so she graciously offered to be young Kitster's wet nurse as well. Oddly enough, she remembered the Banais from her life on Tatooine. She'd cried a little when she'd heard about their murder, according to Qui-Gon, but she swore she would be there for the baby. It seemed Kitster's parents had been the ones to help her stow aboard the freighter that brought her to Coruscant when she was pregnant with Anakin.
Looks like everything's pretty much come full circle for Shmi, she thought.
"We're getting ready to land, Healer Kai," a young Padawan learner named Siri Tachi said softly, startling her back into the present. "My master wanted me to make sure you were strapped in."
"Thank you, Padawan Tachi." Allysia smiled and sat up, strapping herself in for the landing.
She was among the first ones out once the ship came to a stop on the Temple's landing pad. Her first stop was to report to the Council and give them a progress report. The Council was pleased to know that the new Healer's Wing at the Temple on Illum was thriving and dismissed her. Yan Dooku, who'd recently been given a seat on the Jedi Council, pulled her aside.
"Qui-Gon just got back from Ansion with his apprentice," he told her, his tone filled with concern.
Immediately Allysia was on her guard. "Was he hurt, Master?" she asked.
"Nothing that a session in a bacta tank couldn't fix. He's resting in your quarters in the new Force-dampened wing." Yan was smiling, knowing that the love of a good woman was a better cure than a thousand bacta tanks.
With the way that he was practically smirking, Allysia was tempted to tell him that he knew too much for an old respectable Jedi Master. But she simply grinned, bowed, and took her leave.
Sure enough, when she entered her quarters, she sensed her mate's presence. Even though they had formed a Lover's Link when they reconciled, they hadn't had a chance to consummate it because she had accepted the mission to Illum. She immediately went to her bedroom where Qui-Gon lay resting on her bed.
"Master Dooku tells me you were injured on Ansion," she said softly. "Are you all right? I'm sorry I wasn't here."
He smiled and gently pulled onto the bed and into his arms. "There's nothing to forgive, sweetness. You were needed on Illum, and my injuries were minor. What I missed the most was having you here like this, in my arms." He lowered his mouth to hers and the kiss they shared was passionate and loving. He had truly missed her and was looking forward to loving her completely.
Allysia could feel his desire and it was beginning to arouse her as well, yet caution held her back. She knew she was no virgin, but her first time had been by force and she hadn't had any experience since then. She knew Qui-Gon would be nothing like Xanatos, yet she couldn't help but feel a bit afraid.
Qui-Gon sensed her fear and set out immediately to soothe it. He sent her loving sensations through the Force and gently laid her down on the bed.
"Is this what you want?" he asked softly, wanting to make sure. She smiled up at him and nodded, beginning to unfasten her belt and tunics. "Let me," he whispered and he began to slowly undress her, kissing almost every inch of skin he exposed. She groaned softly under his soft mouth and beard tickling her skin and arched up to give him more access.
"Qui-Gon…" she whimpered softly, feeling the memories from her attack washing away as she felt his mouth encircle her pebbled nipple while his skilled fingers teased its mate.
He grinned heatedly. So she likes that, he thought to himself as he finally tore himself away from her breasts and continued undressing her, trailing kisses down her tummy as he removed her tunics completely and began to pull her leggings down her hips and legs, leaving her completely nude and vulnerable before him. Before she could even react, he lowered his head between her spread thighs and began to tease her center with his lips and tongue.
Allysia was floating on a bed of sensation beneath his skilled mouth. She gripped the bedsheets beneath her and fought to hold onto her control as she felt the pressure building inside her. "Let go, love," he urged her gently. "Let go…"
She climaxed hard, crying his name. He smiled and drank up her essence, helping her come down from her orgasmic high. Once he was sure she was calmed down, he moved away from her and began to strip off his own clothes. He was aching for her and couldn't wait any longer.
Allysia watched through half open eyes as his body was revealed to her. Even at fifty, he was still a very fit man, and very handsome. She shuddered softly in anticipation. A moment later she felt the mattress sink as Qui-Gon joined her on the bed and tenderly cuddled her close.
"I don't think you'll ever realize how much your love healed me," he whispered as he kissed her passionately.
Tears welled up in her eyes. "And you did the same to me." She gently cupped his face in her hand as tears of love ran down her cheeks and she let him gently ease her down onto her back. He looked down at her, his eyes questioning and she nodded, knowing by the tenderness in his eyes that this was not Xanatos wanting to overpower her with his physical supremacy, but it was Qui-Gon Jinn, her gentle, tender mate who wanted to make love to her.
Since she'd been so long without a man, his invasion of her felt alien, and slightly painful. It was like it was her first time all over again, only more gentle. After a few moments, he was completely sheathed inside her and he held still, wanting to wait for her to adjust to him. When she nodded for him to go on, he kissed her softly and began to move, using slow measured thrusts. For her, the discomfort was fading quickly and being replaced by a flaming desire that had been evident during his oral teasing of her. She wrapped her arms around his back and her legs around his hips, and began to move with him, catching his rhythm and even urging him on to move faster.
"Qui-Gon…" she whispered as she held onto him tight, wanting to tell him. "Qui-Gon…I…love you!" She kissed him as her nails gently raked his back, urging him on even more and soon he was pounding in her, needing release as much as she did.
They climaxed as one, uniting their souls and joining their hearts, and crying out each other's names.
Qui-Gon carefully eased himself from his mate's body and rolled onto his side to cuddle her close once again, letting his thoughts stray to that brief time when he so foolishly pushed her away. Regret washed over him until he felt her hand caress his bearded cheek.
"I forgave you back when we bonded, Qui-Gon," she said as she kissed him softly. "I have no regrets, and neither should you."
He smiled and held her tight against him. Yes, they had truly healed one another; he when he helped her through her traumatic rape and miscarriage, and she when she helped him grieve for Tahl. As he drifted to sleep in her arms, he sent a silent thank you to the Force for giving him this second chance at love.
Allysia was aboard a Jedi ship heading to Illum with some much needed supplies for the Jedi Temple's Healer's Wing. Normally, she would be annoyed, but she was being escorted by two Jedi Master and Padawan teams: Adi Gallia and Siri Tachi, and Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi. Consequently, she didn't mind because she knew Qui-Gon would make time with her once the ship made the jump to hyperspace. The trip to Illum, even with the hyperspace jump would be about six hours, give or take. She grinned wickedly.
Finally, Obi-Wan came to her to inform her that they had made the jump to light speed. "You can go ahead and take a nap, Healer Kai," he said. "I'm sure you must be tired."
The way he was practically snickering made Allysia want to say that seventeen-year-olds knew way too much for their own good. But she simply feigned a yawn and lay down on the sleeping cot in her quarters. There would be a chance to get even a few years down the line. Especially if he continues to keep time with Padawan Tachi, she thought to herself. Gradually she began to relax and soon found herself dozing.
Once the ship was safely in light speed, Qui-Gon made his way to the private quarters he was sharing with Allysia. He wanted some alone time with her before they were to land on Illum. He smiled as he walked in. She was dozing on the cot and her face looked so peaceful in her rest. Quietly, he made his way to her and gently lay down behind her, wrapping his arms around her and planting soft teasing kisses on her ear.
"Mmmmm," she mumbled. "I was dreaming that a handsome Jedi came."
He grinned, planting an open mouthed kiss to her cheek. "And what did he do to you, this Jedi?" he asked breathlessly as he continued his teasing, gently easing her down onto her back so she was beneath him.
She flashed an almost drunken smile. "You woke me up before the best of it," she quipped. "But he would've definitely ravished me I'm sure."
He smiled and kissed her passionately. "Are you sure you're not dreaming, my darling?"
Before long, their clothes were discarded and soon all that mattered to them was their love for each other, the love that healed one another.
THE END