"Obi Wan? Are you in here?" Tak Sae opened the door into the quarters that Obi Wan and Qui Gon were sharing aboard the Transport. "Obi Wan?" She called again. She had spent the better part of a half an hour looking for him. He wasn't there. Tak Sae walked over to the sleeping couch and sat down heavily. "Damn!" She said under her breath. Where could he be? The ship is only so big!! She needed to talk to him.

Just then Qui Gon walked into the room. "Hello Tak Sae. Is there something I can help you with?" He went over to the couch and stood next to her.

Tak Sae stood up and faced him. "No, father. Not unless you know where Obi Wan is. I can't seem to find him anywhere, and I need to talk to him." She controlled her frustration in front of her father, wishing to appear strong.

"Actually, I can help with that, I believe he is up in the cockpit with the pilot. Is there anything I can help you with?" Qui Gon didn't Let himself sound hurt, but Tak Sae was afraid that she may have insulted him in some way, by acting as though Obi Wan could help her with something, but he could not.

"No, father, I just wanted to talk with him about something. Its not really important. I suppose I'm just anxious to get back home. Have you told Obi Wan anything about our mission yet?" She was trying desperately not to rush. She wanted to be nice to her father, but she truly felt no real connection to him.

"Not too much. I thought that maybe you should explain it to him. You two seem to be becoming friends." Qui Gon smiled at her. "I can tell you are impatient to find him, so why don't you go ahead and keep looking. I have some matters of my own to attend to."

She smiled back at him, grateful that he could read her that well, even though she had been trying so hard to hide her impatience. She knew that it was one of her biggest failings, but she had never had much control over it. Tak Sae had always been much better at physical things. Healing, sensing the presence of others. Emotions tended to run rampant with her. She left the room quickly and leaned back against the wall. She felt bad for not feeling toward her father the way she had with her mother. Qui Gon just hadn't been in her life enough for her to feel such a deep affection. She had spent the last few days with him and Obi Wan, getting ready for this mission to her home planet, and she hated to admit it, but she felt more connected to Obi Wan then her own father.

She shook her head and turned to head down the hall. Just as she rounded the corner she ran right into Obi Wan, knocking them both flat onto the floor. Good gods, I must be distracted, I didn't even sense him coming! She chided herself mentally.

Obi Wan never lost his composure, even for a moment. He simply stood up and extended his hand to Tak Sae, smiling. "What's the rush? You lost something?" He asked, knowing full well what she had been trying to find.

"Yes, you." She said, taking the offered hand and standing up. "I've been looking for you everywhere! Where in the universe did you disappear to?" She faked anger, but her grin gave away the fact that Tak Sae wasn't truly angry with him.

"I was up in the cockpit, talking with the pilot." Obi Wan leaned against the corridors wall. "What's so urgent that you needed me for. Couldn't Qui Gon help you?"

Tak Sae sighed heavily. "Nothings all that urgent really. I suppose I was just giving myself something to do. And you know full well that I can't discuss anything with him. We are nothing at all alike. I don't think that he would understand anything I might ask him." She started walking down the corridor, and Obi Wan fell into step beside her.

"You shouldn't be so hard on him. Qui Gon may understand more then you think. You should give him a chance." Obi Wan was defensive of his master. It made him sad that Tak Sae didn't care more for her father. He knew that Qui Gon hadn't been around for her, but he also knew that Tak Sae understood why. She understood the life of a Jedi. She had seen it.

Tak Sae turned into the open doorway of her quarters. "I know, I just don't feel any connection to him. Maybe we are just too different." She sat down on the sleep couch and sighed again.

Obi Wan walked over to the viewport and looked out at the stars rushing by. He waited a moment before speaking again. "Now you know that isn't true. He is a good man, and you two have more in common then either one of you will admit." When Tak Sae didn't answer him, Obi Wan decided that it might be a good time to change the subject. "What is it that we are needed for on your home planet Tak Sae, I still have yet to be filled in."

Tak Sae smiled sadly. "I'm afraid that it's nothing too simple. My planet has been peaceful for many years. A few minor crimes here and there, but no wars, no politicians screaming at each other and lying in our faces. However, our queen died a little over a year ago. Her heir, Prince Troven, was a good man, until recently. He has become corrupt. He doesn't care for the power that he has, and as much as he may love his people, he loves money much more. He sits all day, doing nothing for his people, figuring that they can fend for themselves, and work out their own problems. Unfortunately, this has created even more problems that he refuses to see. One of his council members has decided that he should rule the land, since the king has no need for it. His name is Derek, and he is an evil man. The king does not see this, and says only that Derek's word is his word. Derek is forcing the people to pay more, and makes they're employers give them less. All of this extra money goes straight to him and the King. Like I said King Troven is a good man, but he has developed a love for money that outweighs everything else."

Tak Sae paused as if this were becoming increasingly difficult for her to discuss. "We want our King back the way that he was. And we want Derek out of any position of power. But none of us can seem to get close enough to either of them to make anything change. No one on my planet knows that I went to the Jedi Temple to request help. My family even thinks that I simply left for a neighboring system on a Healing mission. But I had to request your help. I didn't know where else to turn. We are desperate. The people on the west continent are close to revolt, and we are afraid of it starting a civil war among our people. So I found the only Jedi I have ever known, my father. He took me to the council to request your help officially. And that's about all there is to it." Tak Sae leaned her head into her hands to block out the pain that this story always caused her.

She didn't know how long that she had been sitting like that. When she finally looked up she realized that Obi Wan was sitting next to her, with his arm around her shoulders. She had been leaning on him unknowingly. Drawing strength and hope from him. She stayed next to him, not daring to move, afraid he would get back up, and this felt much too right to end.

Over the last week, a few days in the temple and then the few days here on the transport, Obi Wan and Tak Sae had become friends. They had found that the other understood completely the painstaking things that each was going through. Neither, however, had foreseen that this hug would feel so comfortable, so completely right.

"Tak Sae..." Obi Wan began, feeling that maybe he shouldn't be doing this. This is Qui Gon's DAUGHTER! What would he think? Obi Wan's head was spinning from the thought of upsetting his master, his closest friend this way. But she was so beautiful. So sweet, and yet fierce enough to battle an angry Wookie.

"Don't, Obi Wan. Don't object. Stand up and leave, stay quiet. Just don't say that this feels wrong." She never once looked up at him while she said it. Just stared at his left hand as her fingers entwined with his.

Obi Wan took his hand away from hers, and she felt herself tense up, ready to hide the anger and sorrow that she felt when he stood up and walked away. But instead he put his hand under her chin and lifted her face up to look him in the eye.

"Actually I was going to say how right this felt..."

With that, he leaned toward her. Kissing her gently. Both of his hands were now down on her hips, as if to hold her down on the couch and prevent her from floating away. She moved her arms up and wrapped them around his neck.

The kiss deepened and she realized that she was now lying on the couch with Obi Wan on top of her. They could feel the energy surrounding them as the force built up and flowed forth from both of them. If was an energy and warmth that neither of them had ever felt before, even when using the force, this was something more powerful, and less controllable.

"I feel like I'm taking advantage of you." Obi Wan said, breaking off the kiss, and breathing heavily. "I don't want you to be mad with me, Tak Sae. I want to know that this is what you want, and not just something that happened and shouldn't have."

For an answer she simply pulled his face back down, close to hers. Almost kissing him, but not quite. She whispered, so low that he wouldn't have heard it except at this close distance. "This IS what I want Obi Wan. I think that this is what I've wanted since I first met you in the gardens. The question is, do you feel that this is only happening because I am vulnerable?" She was blunt, because she knew that Obi Wan wouldn't continue if he believed that.

Obi Wan seemed to consider it for a moment. Then he leaned back into her. Kissing her even more powerfully then the first time. The warmth that surrounded them seemed to intensify.

It could have been hours later when she awoke. Obi Wan lay next to her, staring at the ceiling. His arm was around her. She pulled the blanket up around them tighter, and snuggled into his side. Obi Wan looked down at her and smiled. "Good morning."

Tak Sae smiled back "Is it morning already? I never could tell in space."

She stood up reluctantly and rescued her tunic and pants from the floor. Obi Wan watched her for a moment, then sat up and began pulling his tunic on.

"Qui Gon is going to be wondering where you were all night" Tak Sae said lightly as she pulled on her boots. "And we are going to be to my planet soon."

Obi Wans chest stopped moving at the mention of his masters name. Oh gods, what is he going to think of this? Obi Wan remembered to breathe, then realized that Tak Sae was staring at him.

"You wish it hadn't happened." She didn't ask, she stated it as a simple, cold fact.

Obi Wan actually had to think about it. DO I regret it? He asked himself.

Surely not, it had been so wonderful, something that they had both wanted. But he was still afraid that his master would be angry with him. No, Qui Gon won't be angry. And besides, it doesn't really concern him He thought, and smiled at Tak Sae. "No, no I don't regret a thing that happened last night. As a matter of fact, I wouldn't mind doing it again." He gave her a sly sideways smile and pulled her back onto the couch for a lingering kiss.

Any fears that Tak Sae had, vanished instantly as she giggled at him. She stood up, pulling him with her.

"Come on. Qui Gon WILL be wondering where you got to, so you better go, and I want to go talk to the pilot and see how close we are to my home."

In the corridor Tak Sae kissed him again. A kiss full of promises of the next chance they would have to be alone, and then they both went their own ways.

"Where did you disappear to young Padawan?" Qui Gon asked as soon as Obi Wan walked into the room. Suddenly Obi Wan was frightened again. He didn't regret anything that had happened the night before, but he couldn't bring himself to tell his master.

"I guess that I just lost track of the time." Obi Wan said. Not a lie, he certainly hadn't intended to spend so long in Tak Sae's room. Qui Gon looked at him, as if deciding to question further. But he decided to leave his apprentice to his secrets. Obi Wan would tell when he felt the time was right, Qui Gon was sure of it. But he was still curious where his Padawan had been all night.

There was a light tapping at the door. Then it opened and Tak Sae walked in. "Good morning friends. The pilot says that we are cleared to land on the planet. Looks like it's time."

Qui Gon walked out the door. Tak Sae looked at Obi Wan and smiled. He grinned back and brushed his fingers against her cheeks as he followed his master out the door.

"Wait here." Qui Gon said as he went up to flight deck.

Obi Wan and Tak Sae obediently stood at the bottom of the ladder. Tak Sae reached over and grabbed Obi Wan's hand, she leaned over and kissed him gently, but passionately. He put his right hand into her short hair and held her close to him.

"Ahem" Qui Gon cleared his throat from behind them.

He had come all the way down the ladder without either of them noticing. Obi Wan felt his heart catch in his chest. Tak Sae had an expression on her face that would have been comical, if only Qui Gon didn't look so serious.

He looks almost hurt Obi Wan thought, as he stared at his master.

Qui Gon walked past them and headed for the loading bay, without saying a word.

This isn't going to be good both of the kids thought at the same time, they looked at each other, KNOWING that they were going to have to convince Qui Gon that neither one was taking advantage of the other.

Tak Sae was secretly sure that her father was angry with her, for distracting his Padawan. While Obi Wan was certain that he was going to be in more trouble then he could even imagine for kissing his masters daughter.

Oh gods.... he must know now where I was last night.... Obi Wan realized.

The kids both walked toward the loading bay, keeping a distance from one another as if they could undo what had happened, even though they both knew that they didn't want that at all...