AN: This takes place the morning after Need You Now 2. Many thanks to Jade_Eyes for the suggestion, and as always, laloga for her constancy.

Need You Now 3

He missed her; so much.

The depth of his emotion in this instance was something not quite like anything Obi-Wan had experienced before. It was a feeling he was unaccustomed to and it was a bit startling, but not unwelcome.

When he'd arrived, they'd been swept up in the current of fear and exhaustion left over in the wake of what the Empire was determined to bring down upon all that threatened it. The only concern Obi-Wan had when he'd seen her was that of consoling Aala after one of the most horrible experiences of her life. The loss of her sister had been devastating, but this he knew, the threat to her baby's life - was nearly unbearable. She'd been angry and terrified and very unhappy with him for not being there, understandably.

Not a warm welcome.

He sincerely hoped every other homecoming in the future would prove entirely more pleasant.

Now, a day later, everything had calmed - Aala had said what she needed to and he'd listened, they had talked and were both well rested, even with the times he'd been up with Miracle during the night. Aala felt better, he knew, but she was still a little subdued, still quiet - the stress and pain from what had happened not yet faded from her mind.

More than anything he simply wanted to hold her in his arms, but he didn't want to push her, so he was careful to let her have her space.

It wasn't easy. As long as they'd been apart, there was little more he could think about than her touch and her love, but he set it aside. Now that he was home, along with Mir, Aala was his focus and nothing was more important than what she needed. Whatever he wanted, her happiness was more important to him and some worries were things only time and space could assuage.

So when the sound of the shower running that morning woke him up, he repressed the urge to join her. And when she came back into the bedroom afterwards, clad only in a clingy, thin, short robe - he tried to repress the feeling the sight of her like that had evoked as well.

In his mind, however, he imagined her coming to him, snuggling in close to him in bed and...

And he almost said something, murmured her name -

But then Mira gave a loud gurgling cry from her room.

It sounded distinctly like a 'Feed me now! Or else!'

Obi-Wan watched, still a little bleary-eyed, as Aala turned automatically toward the door, but he sat up, throwing the covers off and ran his hand through his hair. "I'll get her, love."

With a sigh, Aala cast him a faint smile. "Thank you," she said; it was clear she was happy he was there to help. "I'll just get dressed and be out in a moment. There's a jar of puréed fruit in the cooler, can you give her some of that?"

"Of course," he smiled at her. As he passed her, he couldn't help stopping to press a quick kiss to her brow, his hand brushing her shoulder, and she leaned into his touch.

She would come to him, he knew. When she was ready.

For now, he enjoyed every second spent with his baby girl. She seemed entirely unaffected by what had happened, a testament to Aala's composure - Mir was happy and playful, grinning and laughing - and he was grateful for that.

Aala played with them for awhile, and spent some time by herself and as the morning went on she seemed more like herself. When it was time for Mira's nap, Obi-Wan tucked her into her crib and he smiled as she seemed to fall asleep within moments.

Aala was settled in her favorite comfy chair reading so Obi-Wan went to take his own shower. It was actually his first non-sonic shower in quite a time and he'd forgotten how good it felt - the hot water and the steam - only one thing could make it any better than it was, but that could wait.

He stayed in the shower for a long time letting his body relax, his muscles ease. Eventually he knew he'd been in for far longer than he really needed but as he moved to turn the shower off he realized he hadn't grabbed a towel and there weren't any extras in the 'fresher.

Blast.He'd have to bother Aala. It was either that or go wandering around the house dripping wet, and he didn't think she would appreciate that.

Lifting his arms, he ran his hands through his hair trying to squelch the excess water and then he stepped out of the shower. The 'fresher door slid open as he hit the panel and he stuck his head out.

"Aala?" he called, trying at once to be loud enough that she could hear him but not so loud he disturbed Mira.

She answered a second later. "Yeah?" He could hear her steps as she had gotten up and was coming toward the bedroom.

"I forgot a towel, could you -"

"Sure." She answered just as she stepped through the doorway to the bedroom, but she stopped as she caught sight of him.

Rivulets of water were running down his arms and his chest, over the edges of muscle, across his abdomen and down his legs to drip on the floor beneath him. He was becoming increasingly aware of the growing pool of water, until he caught Aala's gaze and then he became entirely aware of her.

A thoughtless gesture - he ran his fingers through his wet hair again, pushing it back and Aala watched the movement, her eyes brightening. As his hand lowered so did her gaze - across his chest and lower and he swore he could see her own desire light within her.

Her eyes moved up and then down his body again and he grinned.

"Towel?" He prompted her.

"Oh!" She took a deep breath and then turned back to the hallway.

"Here you go." She returned a moment later, handing him a large fluffy towel and to his delight, instead of returning to the other room and her book she took a seat at the edge of the bed, her attention not leaving his form.

The look in her eyes made it clear that she was thinking of him, and his body responded instantly though he took a second to center himself, holding his feelings in check for now.

With practiced ease and perhaps a bit of haste, Obi-Wan rubbed the soft towel across his torso, legs and arms, and then lifted it to his scalp, drying his hair. Or at least making a half-hearted attempt.

He was not vain... not in the least. But... he knew Aala loved him, and she had made it known on occasion that she enjoyed the way he looked. So if he spent a bit longer than normal with his arms raised and the towel over his head to afford her an unimpeded view...

Well, he missed her a lot. And though it felt a little unlike him, after everything, he was aching to show her.

Perhaps this would remind her...

When he was done drying his hair, he shifted to wrap the towel around his waist, and he watched as her eyes lifted to meet his own.

"I missed you," he said his voice low and he took a step toward her.

"I missed you, too."

He took another step so he stood before her.

Everything changed in a moment, and her face transformed; she became his Aala again and his mouth curved in a smile.

Slowly she lifted her hand and ran her fingertips along the edge of his towel. Her nails skimmed across his abdomen and then his hip and he had to close his eyes at the sensation.

When he opened them again, a hint of a grin flickered on her face. "I love you," she murmured, looking up at him.

He cupped his hands at her jaw and leaned down to kiss her forehead. "I love you, too."

When he pulled away, she set her hands behind her and then scooted up the bed, her expression anticipatory, a clear invitation.

Obi-Wan took a few quiet steps, circling to the side of the bed as she lay back and was about to join her when she grinned.

"No damp towels on the bed," she teased.

The towel was off and abandoned on the floor in an instant.

Moving slow, letting things simmer, he laid down beside her and they regarded each other for a moment, but no other words were needed.

So with no trace of hesitation, he reached for her and she inched closer. As she moved to him, he gathered her in his arms, savoring the color of her eyes, the feel of her body, the scent of her skin, and she shifted pressing closer to him.

She was soft and warm, and then a half-smile flicked across her face as she trailed her fingers across his bicep. When he leaned forward to kiss her mouth, and then pulled away again the smile blossomed, she blossomed - her expression shining with happiness.

Part of him was urging to move things along, but he couldn't, didn't want to rush when it came to her. Each moment should be stretched to its full potential.

The softness of her mouth was only exceeded by the softness of the skin he discovered with each passing minute. It was clear by the way she touched him, her hands never stilling for long, by the way she clung to him, that her feelings were the same as his. Every moment was met and savored as they took pleasure in simply being with each other.

With careful precision, he removed every barrier, every piece of cloth, between his skin and hers. As they lay tangled together, Obi-Wan nuzzling and kissing her neck, Aala tilted her head and he paused to look at her as she spoke. "I'm - so happy you're here."

Pleased, he cast her a warm smile and his voice was a little hoarse as he replied. "Me too, my love." Emotion swelling between them, he kissed her, and kissed her again, and then she pulled back again, her expression breaking into a wide grin. "Let me show you how much."

He answered with a rakish grin of his own. "As you wish, my dear."

And for awhile they lost track of everything except each other.

Miracle took a long nap that morning, and each second of their time together was cherished. Obi-Wan felt relieved they had made it through this together, but more than that he needed her, and he was just grateful for her love.

Please review :) Happy Holidays and thanks for reading!

~Ashley