Rating: PG, Q/f. Qui Gon/Lady friend's romantic interlude, implied sex. Romance Genre.
Summary: Young woman meets the handsome Qui-Gon and romance ensues.
Archive: Anyone, just ask me.
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters, nor the venue, LucasFilm does. I am very respectfully borrowing them with no intent to profit.
It began as any other day. Ana had been waiting on a table in the corner when the door opened and a man entered the cafe. He was tall, with long light brown hair streaked with gray. His hair was pulled away from his face and flowed onto his broad shoulders. A closely cropped beard outlined his strong chin. He helped himself to a table at the back of the cafe.
She noticed how he carried himself and thought //I have a feeling about this one.// Straightening her apron she approached his table.
"What can I get you?" She asked.
"Tea, please." He responded.
"Right away." She allowed her eyes to lock on his. For a moment they stared at each other, transfixed, neither able to move, nor wanting to. Only breaking their gaze when another patron enquired where his coffee and bun were. Blushing from the sudden warmth she felt flooding over her, Ana turned and quickly walked to the kitchen.
"Thank you." The stranger answered. Touching her hand as she set the tea on the table. His hands were large yet very gentle as be brushed his fingers against the skin of her hand.
"How much do I owe you?" "Miss?"
Ana realized she had left her hand on the cup, transfixed by his handsome features and the....feeling....she had bout him.
"Oh, uh...." Was all she could seem to say.
"Put this old Knights tab on my bill." Another man who had been seated at another table took a seat across from the stranger.
//A Jedi Knight, oh my!.// She said to herself.
The two men sat and talked at the table for al long time. Each time she glanced at the table the stranger, would smile at her causing her to feel like a giddy school girl with a crush.
When the two men finally finished their talk the other man paid while the stranger, the Jedi Knight, walked slowly up to her.
"Thank you for the lovely evening." He spoke the words as if they had just been on a date.
"You're welcome?" Ana answered. Watching the Jedi as he walked out of the cafe.
***
After closing and locking the door to the cafe Ana said goodnight to Tom the Cook.
"Want me to walk you home?" Tom Asked.
"No thank you, I can take care of myself." Ana turned and walked down the street toward her home thinking about the tall, handsome man who had been in and out of her life today. // The Jedi// she though about the way he mad her feel. She smiled.
Several rough looking men approached her. She kept her gaze low and her pace fast. "Wow, look at that." One of the men said. Whistles and cat calls soon filled her ears. They were following her down the street, starting to surround her. //Stay calm, just keep going// she told herself. then suddenly a strange "whoosh", "hum" filled the air. The men began to scatter.
"Hello again." A voice said. Looking up Ana found a tall cloaked figure holding a lightsaber and standing in her path.
"Excuse me!" She exclaimed, startled but she did not move, could not move.
"I hope you are all right, they did not harm you did they?" The voice under the hood spoke soft and gentle. She felt like fleeing, running, but her legs would not move. Her heart raced fast as he reached up to remove his hood. As she watched the hood drop to his shoulders she realized it was ....him.
"I'm Qui-Gon Jinn," he announced.
"Ana, Ana Lea," she responded finding her breath. "Thank you, but I must be going."
"Wait." He was next to her in a moment, his long strides easily matching hers. "I need to speak with you about what happened in the cafe.....Between us. May I walk with you?"
"Yes." Ana heard herself say. //Wait, what are you doing? You don't even know this man. What if...// The thought trailed off as she looked into his face. Ana could not explain it, but she felt as if he were surrounding her in some way. Encompassing her, keeping her safe. It was as if they were connected.
***
They walked the short distance to her home without saying a word. As they approached the door the took her hand in his turning her toward him.
"There is a connection here, a connection between us. I know you felt it too" Qui-Gon said. Not knowing quite how to answer, Ana reached for her keys with her free hand.
"Yes, I did." She finally found the words.
After opening the door she took his other hand in hers and gave a little tug toward the doorway. He gave with her motion and followed, closing the door behind him.
"Can I get you anything?" Her voice would only raise a whisper.
"You." He whispered in return.
***
Ana awoke the next morning and smiled to herself. Stretching out her arms she searched for him next to her. Her smile turning into a frown. Sitting up she realized he was ....gone.
***
Ana tried not to dwell on the past, but she could not get him out of her mind. The dreams, the feeling that he was somehow there watching over her. Yet she knew he wasn't. When ever the Qui-Gon's friend would come into the cafe she would ask about him. The man would smile and say he did not know. //Yes he does// she thought.
The weeks turned into months and she began to wonder if she would ever see him again.
One night after a rough day at the cafe, Ana returned home and drew herself a hot bath then got into bed. She had felt his presence all day, felt protected. "Yes, I know your here." She said as she drifted off to sleep.
***
Ana settled herself on the blanket she had spread in the field of tall grass. Eating the fruit she had brought with her she lay back allowing the heat of the sun to warm her.
'May I join you?" It was that voice....his voice. She opened her eyes to see a tall cloaked figure framed by sunlight. //Perfect timing//
"Of course." She said raising herself and walking toward the figure framed in sunlight. She reached to remove the hood. As the hood fell to his she noticed a wariness about him, he seemed tired, old. It did not matter though, he had returned to her.
The spent a wonderful day together, talking, laughing and making love. Toward evening, after a long silence Qui-Gon spoke. "I must go", his voice was sad, distant.
"You will not be back." Ana replied. She did not know why, but she could feel it.
"No I won't, but I will always be with you." Qui-Gon placed one last kiss on her hand.
"Wait," she could not let him leave, not yet. "There is something I must tell you."
"I already know." He smiled , turned and was gone.
Ana awoke with a start. It had been a dream. But not just another dream, this on was different. She felt alone. She no longer felt the connection. She lay back in her bed, her eyes filling with tears. Then the pain began.
***
A few days after the dream Ana saw Qui-Gon's friend again. He looked sad. //I think I know why// she thought as she enquired about the Jedi once more.
"He was in a great battle with a Sith Lord." The man chose his words carefully. "He was protecting the Queen of Naboo when he and his padawan were confronted by their arch foe." He stopped waiting for her reaction. "He died in the battle." She said, half believing it, half not. "Yes," he said, his voice soft and reverent. "The funeral is tomorrow on Naboo." The man placed a wary hand on hers.
Ana arrived home amidst a flurry of tears and rain. //How fitting// she thought as she gathered her thing. Qui-Gon's friend has arranged a seat on a shuttle to Naboo. It left in less than an hour.
Stopping one last time to see if the feeling, the connection was there, reaching out for him with her mind, she found nothing but emptiness. She closed the door and walked back into the rain.
***
Ana now stood in a room full of Jedi and Heads of State. Qui-Gon's body lay burning on the pyre set ablaze only moments before. She scanned the room looking for no one in particular. Secretly hoping that this was a joke and that he would step from the crowd and take her away from this place.
Her eyes landed on a young man standing beside a small boy. As her eyes traveled passed the young man she caught sight of the lightsaber hanging at his side. It was Qui-Gon's. //You must be his Padawan// she thought. Her eyes moving to the young mans face she realized he was looking at her. He smiled, Ana felt a new warmth enter her soul. //The Feeling.// She looked into his eyes for a long moment then smiled back. She knew she would be alright, she could feel it. Her eyes drifted now the the sleeping new born girl in her arms. Qui-Gon was right, he would be with her forever.
The End
