Another day, another story! Hello, welcome and thanks for stopping by!

This is the fourth in the "Harbor" series. I don't think that it will require to you have read the other three stories, at least I try to plan it that way. : ) The only basic bit of knowledge you would need is that Qui-Gon Jinn has a daughter and her name is Amber Jinn. Besides that, I think anything else will be self-explanatory or I will put something to explain what's going on.

There will be some Jedi Apprentice stuff in this story, but these stories change most of the stuff in that series. Basically, you may see characters or situations that originate from Ms. Watson's work, but I'm disregarding most of it. However, anything that is from the JA books (like Xanatos) belongs to her and not me. Also, long paragraphs in italics = a flashback; just a heads up! : )

As always, I don't own any of this. Any recognizable people, places or things belongs to Mr. George Lucas or Jude Watson, depending on what it is. The only thing I own is Amber, but everything else is theirs. I don't make any money (sadly)! : )

Please, read and review!

Qui-Gon Jinn was soaking wet, his dark brown robe plastered against him. The Coruscant WeatherNet had been issuing rain warnings for a few days now. Apparently, tonight was the night they had decided to unleash the deluge on the climate controlled planet. Qui-Gon had missed that announcement.

It would not have mattered to the Jedi Master had he been made aware of the pre-planned storm. Sleep eluded Qui-Gon, as it had for more than a year now. His insomnia was especially acute when he was on furlough. He had taken to long, late-night walks while on Coruscant, trying his best to steer clear of his home for as long as possible. Now, the unavoidable Jedi Temple loomed over him, darkened through the pounding sheets of rain. It was a less than welcome sight.

His rooms were haunted. The ghosts of his memories lying in wait, hoping to catch him off guard. And, they were usually successful. It had been over a year since Qui-Gon Jinn had seen his ex-apprentice. It was more than a year ago when the boy he had raised turned away from him and the Jedi Order, running instead to the open, soul-devouring arms of the dark side.

It was not supposed to be this way. Xanatos had been everything Qui-Gon could have asked for in an padawan. He was highly intelligent. It had not been often that the Jedi Master had to show his former learner anything more than three times. The boy he knew had been quick witted, inventive and had always shone a certain disregard for the rules, something that Qui-Gon understood all to well.

But, there had been signs, warnings that Qui-Gon had dismissed out of hand. The anger and frustration. The secretive nature. The boy's almost unmanageable competitive streak. The Master had been so certain he could curb these tenancies. That he would be able to soften them, or rid the apprentice of them entirely. Truth be told, Qui-Gon had thought he had been successful. Unfortunately, the only thing Xanatos had become a master of was concealment. He hid these flaws from his Master, honing those tendencies instead of learning to overcome them.

The rain fell harder as he drew closer to the Temple steps. Qui-Gon thought he could see faint silhouettes dancing in the distance, the shadows in the torrent playing tricks on his eyes. The figures turned into a familiar scene, one that continuously tormented the big Jedi.

"No, Xanatos! Don't do this!" Qui-Gon pleaded, two green blades all that separated master from apprentice.

"What is it to you Qui-Gon? You never cared about me. There was always someone else; I was never enough for you!" the young man sneered.

The Jedi Master did not have a chance to reply, the Apprentice renewing his attack. Furious blows fell on him, his lost friend helped now by the dark side of the Force. It made Xanatos powerful, but at the expense of his technique. Soon, Qui-Gon had the upper hand on the young man, his lightsaber at held at his throat as Xanatos lay at the Master's feet.

"Do it, Qui-Gon," his padawan whispered, pure hatred staring out of those icy blue eyes, "Kill me, or I swear I will make you regret it."

The Master tried, but he did not see the fallen Jedi apprentice. He only saw the boy he had raised and trained. The youngling he had chosen, who had helped heal the pain in his heart left by the absence of two others. The child he had, over the years, come to see as a son.

Qui-Gon hesitated and Xanatos ran.

The drenched Jedi slowly climbed the Temple steps. He had not sought out his wayward apprentice. Qui-Gon was not a stupid man; he knew the boy was irrevocably lost, consumed by his greed and hatred. Ironically, Xanatos had made good on his threat without lifting a finger. The Master regretted everything and forgave himself nothing.

It had been his fault. Had Qui-Gon been a better master or perhaps even a better person, he would have seen what was broken in the boy. He would have stopped this long before it happened. He had overindulged the padawan, too proud to see what and who was standing right in front of him.

He stepped out of the rain and into the silent Temple. A place that had once been a sanctuary to him. Boots squeaked on the dry marble floor, echoing through the wide passageways as Qui-Gon reluctantly headed towards his quarters. He comforted himself with the thought that this would not happen again. He would never destroy another life as he had Xanatos. As he had his own.