Disclaimer: Hell no, not mine
Notes: Inspired by my humming an age old campfire song. If I have posted this already, let me know. It's something I found buried in my archives as a bloom of an idea. I just kinda germinated it.
Feedback: Oh please dear god! I need it.

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Today while the blossoms still cling to the vine
I'll taste your strawberries, I'll drink your sweet wine
A million tomorrows shall all pass away
Ere I forget all the joys that are mine today.
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Tomorrow, he goes home, and I will never see him again.

What? You expect me to utter undying words of love? How I will sit at home and pine after him until he can briefly visit me again, years from now? Forget that! I'm a busy woman. I have things of my own to do, places of my own to go.

Jedi can never stay in one place. I was asked once why they didn't just set up permanent posts in various sectors, like circuit judges. The answer to that is easy. People will begin to trust the person rather then the office. Jedi need people to trust the office on sight and not the person wearing the beige robe. Makes it easier for them to do thier job.

A pair of them come by to oversee a treaty. My planet has been feuding with our neighbor. Usually it's only been restricted to petty thievery and teenage style pranks, but in recent years it's gotten to bombings where people have lost lives. They arrived to see if they could peacibly settle things.

I am the assistant to my planet's elected ruler. Essentially I do everything she does but get no credit. I've usually been so busy with my work that I never really had time to fall in love. Until he came along.

He is intelligent, charming, gentlemanly. His polished manners, disarming smile and the fact I know he has a moral code that is unshakable made it a forgone conclusion that the ice queen would hit and hit hard.

Tomorrow he leaves. Tonight is our last night.

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Oh I'll be a dandy and I'll be a rover
You'll know who I am by the song that I sing
I'll feast at your table, I'll sleep in your clover
who cares what tomorrow may bring.
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The man actually seemed nervous when I came to his door. It was rather funny in a way. I kept things light and fun. While I knew he was going to leave tomorrow I didn't want it to affect tonight. I was thankful and grateful he came into my life.

I was afraid I would never know what it was like to be in love.

Instead of a tearful plea for a last night together, I asked him if he wanted to come with me to one of the local celebrations of the peace accord. He smiled and placed his hand in mine.

We spent the evening dancing and singing around the bonfire like savages. We threw ourselves into the steps of the dance, the pounding beat of the music and the roar of the fire. Time seemed to freeze.

After a while, we froze too. How long we stood staring at each other in the flickering firelight I don't know.

Then, like many other male halves of couples around the fire, he scooped me up into his arms and carried me off to the cool night air. He quickly found a concealed moss covered grotto with a stream nearby.

I'll never forget how we made love that night. It was wild and carefree. At times it was as hot as the bonfire we left. At others it was as tender and gentle as the touch of a feather.

Eventually we made it back to my rooms and continued loving inside from the cool bite of the night air. After a time, we drifted languidly to sleep. I cherished and treasured every moment of that night.

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I can't be contented with yesturday's glories
I can't live on promises winter to spring
Today is my moment and now is my story
I'll laugh, and I'll cry, and I'll sing.
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I watch from the balcony where my leader watches the Jedi go. He sees me. I can almost sense him scanning me with his eyes and special senses to see how I am taking his leaving.

I feel nothing but joy so great it is almost bittersweet. I did love him for who he was. I still do. His quick sense of humor that he doesn't show often is a delight.

If he weren't fine tempered and fine honed by the Jedi he would have made a wonderful rich dilettante. Rich enough to indulge any whim he might have, generous enough to indulge his friends and random strangers who capture his fancy or sympathy. His good heart and soul would have remained.

Instead of a soft dabbler, he became tempered battle steel. I was proud and joyful to have known him for as long as I have. Most people will only get to see him from a distance. I got to see much closer. How many others can claim as much?

He smiles at me, just before he boards his ship. I smile back at him.

I am fairly bursting with love and joy. There has never been a promise between us. There never should be.

I can see by his expression that if he ever happens to come back, he'll look me up. We might be lovers again, we might be good friends. Either way it happens, I'll rest content.

Yesterday we were Lovers and I knew the joys of living love. The taste of ruby wine on his lips, the feel of his hair under my palms, the sound of his voice groaning in passion or rumbling with laughter.

Today we part, and I know the bittersweet joy of watching what I love go to where it belongs. Tomorrow, who knows?

In the end, I'm not worried. I know love. I'll be a better leader for my planet because of it.

But now I know what it is to truly laugh, and cry and sing.

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Please give me feedback. I need it. -Tia