This Moment
by sidewinder (sidewinder@fanfiction.net)
Rating: PG-13
Archive: m_a, my homepage
Category: more thesis-avoiding silly Romance PWP.
Somebody stop me!
Series: follows Stranger Things... & Fevered Thoughts
Summary: Still lying about in bed, Obi-Wan pampers his
master...and Qui-Gon has a revelation.
Notes: Last one in this series...I think. Partly
inspired by some recent chat over on the "bguy" list
Disclaimer: all I own is my overstressed brain
"Padawan..."
"Yes, Master?"
"What are you doing?"
"Braiding your hair."
"Why?"
"I was curious to see how it would look."
"Do you intend to braid all of it?"
"Perhaps."
"That could take some time."
"I'm in no hurry. And you need the rest."
"I'm feeling perfectly fine now. Our last three rounds
of 'therapy' have been quite beneficial to my well-
being, I can assure you."
"Nevertheless, there's no reason to rush you out of
bed. Wouldn't want you to have a relapse."
"But it's nearly sundown."
"Mmm hmm. So you see, with most of the day gone
already, what reason is there to get up?"
"Food, for one."
"You're getting hungry. That's a good sign. It's
almost dinner time. I'll go down to the meal hall and
bring us back something to eat in a little while."
"If that is what you want to do."
"It is."
"Though, really, it seems rather unbecoming of a Jedi
Master to be pampered all day by his padawan, over
something so trivial as an allergic reaction."
"True. But it's the first excuse I've had to pamper
you, and I intend to take full advantage of it." Obi-
Wan paused, running his hands in a very soothing
fashion through Qui-Gon's hair. "I'm always the one
who hurts himself in a training exercise. Or gets sick
or into trouble on a mission and ends up in bed for
days on end while you fret over me. For once the boot
is on the other foot, and I feel like
returning the favor. Besides, when was the last time
we did absolutely nothing, for an entire day, except
spend time together? No missions, no lessons, no
training...nothing."
"I can't recall."
"I can. We haven't. So today, that's what we're
going to do. Absolutely nothing."
"Ah, but you see, that is a lesson, Obi-Wan. A
lesson in learning to slow down, and appreciate the
people, and things, we normally take for granted."
"Oh. Damn. So there's no such thing as a day without a
lesson with you, is there?"
"No. Although today I think you are the one who is
teaching me. A lesson that I had forgotten, perhaps."
"Fair enough." Obi-Wan selected another section of
hair, and started braiding it carefully.
"Mmm."
"Yes?"
"I see why you enjoy it when I braid your hair. It's a
pleasant sensation. Relaxing."
"Then you'll have to let me do this more often."
"And what will the others say when I go outside with a
head full of braids?"
"They'll say you must have a padawan who loves you
very much, to spend all this time fussing over your
hair."
"More likely they'll say I indulge my silly padawan's
whims far too often."
"Me? Silly? I'm not the one having dreams about being
pregnant. That is what I would call silly, Master."
"I've been thinking about that some more."
"Oh, no..."
"Yes. And I think I understand the dream now. It
wasn't really about having a child. It was about my
desire to create something else between us...something
even more binding."
The hands paused on his hair. "A life bond, do you
mean?"
"Yes. ...Obi-Wan?"
"I'm sorry, you simply surprised me, Master. I didn't
think..."
"We haven't discussed it, because I didn't want to put
you under any pressure to make a choice. There is
not a more serious decision a Jedi can make." He took
one of Obi-Wan's hands and stroked it gently. "And
there are things which worry me."
"What things, Master?"
"I know you deny it matters, but the fact is, I am
much older than you, Padawan. Now it may not seem so
important, but in the future? Or if anything should
happen to me--"
"No, foolish talk."
"No, it isn't, Obi-Wan. Listen to me. Sometimes the
life bond is so strong, when one partner dies, the
other can no longer survive alone. The shock is too
great, the disorientation of in effect living only a
half-life...I would not want you to--"
Obi-Wan put his hand to his master's lips. "Foolish
talk, Master," he insisted. "You are the one who
always tells me not to dwell on the future, to live in
the moment instead. And I want to live this moment
with you...for however long it lasts."
Qui-Gon sighed. "Headstrong padawan."
"Equally stubborn master."
"We'll have to ask for the Council's permission,
particularly as you are still my padawan. They might
ask us to wait until after you pass the trials..."
"Waiting will not be a problem. Not really. Simply
knowing you want this is enough for now." Obi-Wan
smiled. "More than enough."
After a long kiss, which lead to another round of
"therapy":
"I suppose I should go find us some dinner, then."
"An excellent idea, Padawan."
Obi-Wan stretched lazily, then flipped out of bed with
a showy leap, grinning back at his master.
"Now who is glowing?" Qui-Gon observed wryly.
"I won't be long," Obi-Wan said, finding his scattered
clothes and throwing them on in a rush.
"I know."
Obi-Wan searched about for his boots, then stepped
over to the bed for one more kiss. "I love you."
"Go," Qui-Gon ordered, "before your poor bed-ridden
master dies of hunger."
Obi-Wan shot him a look most inappropriate for a
padawan to give his master, then hurried for the door.
Qui-Gon smiled to himself and settled back into bed.
Yes, this was a moment he hoped would last for a
very long time.
end