“Obi-Wan, I have explained this to you. In certain cultures it is customary at this time of year to throw parties involving the assumption of a different – and sometimes outrageous – identity.”

“But Master—“

“I didn´t say it necessarily made sense, Obi-Wan. But this holiday is special to children and so the fundraiser was scheduled accordingly. Besides, as Jedi we are obligated to participate in the customs of every culture without prejudice. And, aside from all that, it can be fun.”

“Fun?”

“Yes, Obi-Wan, fun. You do know about fun, do you not?”

Obi-Wan gritted his teeth. “Of course. But this? Fun?” He held his arms out and gestured toward his reflection in the mirror.

Qui-Gon moved behind his apprentice and studied the mirror for a moment. Suppressing a chuckle, he patted Obi-Wan on the shoulder. “Yes. Fun. That thing that young people like yourself do.”

“It´s humiliating,” Obi-Wan bristled as he looked at himself: big, baggy pajama-like outfit covered in multi-colored polka dots, red shoes that extended several inches beyond his feet in all directions, large red wig formed into a puffy ball atop his head, and a perfectly round red nose strapped to his face.

“Obi-Wan, may I remind you that this is for the children.”

“Yes Master, I realize that. But why do I have to dress like an idiot while you get to be dashing?”

“Because I´m the Master,” Qui-Gon responded with one eyebrow raised.

Obi-Wan dropped his head in disgust and walked away from the mirror, his shoes making loud squeaking noises with every step.

“Don´t forget your makeup, Obi-Wan,” Qui-Gon teased, albeit politely.

Obi-Wan turned quickly on his heel, a loud squeak coming from it as he shifted his balance. “I will not wear makeup,” he growled…as much as he could growl wearing a red floppy wig and matching nose.

Qui-Gon was a strong Jedi, but not that strong. Without missing a beat, he burst out with hysterical laughter. Obi-Wan´s eyes turned icy blue as he glared at his Master. He then turned again and loped down the hall toward his room, squeaking all the way.

The masquerade party to benefit the Coruscant Children´s Foundation was held in the grand ballroom of the Fairwinds Hotel. And a spectacular event it was. Citizens from all over the city paraded through the room, dressed in every sort of scary, handsome, and adorable costume. Of particular note were one swashbuckling Jedi Master and his bright-haired, squeaky padawan.

“Stop lagging, Obi-Wan,” Qui-Gon called over his shoulder as Obi-Wan slowly straggled up behind him.

“This is ridiculous, Master. I stick out like a sore thumb,” Obi-Wan said while he twitched his itchy nose beneath the red ball.

“Nonsense,” Qui-Gon said. “Everyone is in costume. Look.”

Obi-Wan gazed around the room, hopefully searching for anyone who looked like him.

“Hey, nice get-up, Kenobi.” Obi-Wan knew that voice and groaned. He turned around to see Tath Ronel, a fellow padawan, who, of course, was dressed very elegantly.

“Hello, Tath,” Obi-Wan said with no enthusiasm.

“I think you´re lost, buddy,” Tath said, giving Obi-Wan a playful smack on the shoulder. “The children´s party is upstairs.”

“Very funny,” Obi-Wan said.

“But I like that outfit,” Tath teased. “Polka dots really become you.”

Obi-Wan made a face and walked away from Tath as Qui-Gon called him over to where he stood with Mace Windu. Outside the Temple, Mace never made a habit of standing on ceremony. Upon seeing Obi-Wan approach in his clown ensemble, Mace´s entire body ruptured into unabashed laughter.

“Master Windu,” Obi-Wan grumbled and bowed.

Mace let out a howl and wiped a tear away from his eye. “Obi-Wan, you must be the bravest man here this evening.”

Obi-Wan tried to smile out of respect, but he could do no better than a grimace.

“Mace,” Qui-Gon said, “I ask that you not torment my padawan.”

“You´re right,” Mace said. “I should be tormenting you instead for making him wear that.”

Obi-Wan wasn´t sure if this was going his way or not, so he chose to drop his red fuzzy head and stare at the floor in the hope that no one would recognize him.

“Obi-Wan,” Qui-Gon said. “I see Chancellor Velorum. Would you care to join me?”

“No, Master,” Obi-Wan said, still staring at the floor.

“Obi-Wan, this is a party. We don´t get to attend parties very often. You should enjoy yourself.”

“No thank you, Master.” Obi-Wan cringed at the sound of other padawans snickering as they walked by. “I would prefer to stay here.”

“Very well, Obi-Wan,” Qui-Gon said reluctantly.

“Well, what did you expect?” Mace said to Qui-Gon as they walked away. “I can´t believe you made him wear that. He´s not a boy anymore, you know.”

“So you keep telling me,” Qui-Gon said.

Obi-Wan wished himself invisible, although he did take some satisfaction in hearing Mace chastise Qui-Gon. He backed up a few steps in order to put himself in the position of being an observer as opposed to attracting any unwanted attention. His eyes hesitantly scanned the room and examined the various, non-humiliating costumes.

And then his eyes fell on her. It was her sweet face that made him stop, but as a small crowd cleared away from her, his breath caught in his lungs as he took her in. She was petite and dressed as some sort of sprite, with a green dress and shimmering iridescent wings on her back. A joyful aura surrounded her and gave her physical form a happy glow that extended even beyond her gentle beauty.

Her eyes finally shifted to meet his, and she smiled at him…followed by a soft giggle. For Obi-Wan, the spell was broken as he was forced back to the reality that he was attempting to flirt looking like a fop. He cursed Qui-Gon, not for the first time that night, and turned around.

“Hi,” came a soft voice from behind.

He spun back around to find her standing there smiling sweetly at him. “H-hi,” he said.

“I was just saying to one of my friends that this party was so boring. It´s just a bunch of buttoned-up noblemen and the wannabe heroes. Now a clown,” she said, pointing her finger at him, “that´s real fun. I commend your good sense.”

Obi-Wan stared at her, perplexed. She was actually serious.

She played with her fingers. “I know a fairy isn´t the most exciting costume—“

“I think you look incredible,” Obi-Wan blurted out before he realized what he was saying. He felt heat flash through his cheeks.

She smiled, bashful this time. “Thanks.”

Something on her hip finally caught his attention. He point to it and said, “Is that—“

“Oh yeah.” She grabbed the object off a tiny loop attached to her dress. “Most fairies would have a magic wand. I have a light saber.” She examined the handle for a moment. “A poor imitation of a really good imitation of a light saber, I suppose, but I am on a budget.”

“Oh, I don´t know,” Obi-Wan said as he took the saber from her, his rich voice belying his appearance. “You should have seen my first attempt at constructing one.”

She gasped quietly. “You´re a Jedi?”

“Yes.”

She quickly grabbed the toy saber from him. “Oh….how embarrassing….I…..” she stammered as she hid it behind her back and looked nervously around the room.

Obi-Wan could sense that she was feeling the need for a quick escape, and he attempted to re-direct her. “I´m the one who is embarrassed, being put on display as the galaxy´s silliest Jedi.”

“Well, that isn´t necessarily bad,” she said and bit her lip. “Some people like silly,” she said quietly and then her eyes grew larger and she added, “Not that I think you´re silly…but if you were….I mean…um….I meant silly in a good way….that….”

He gulped. “I´m Obi-Wan.”

“I´m—“

“Hey there, jelly bean!” A tall man dressed as a soldier interrupted the exchange. “I´ve been looking everywhere for you.”

“Oh hi, Markal,” she said quietly.

“You look adorable,” Markal said.

“Thanks.”

“I seem to remember you promising me the first dance,” Markal said as he eyed the clown standing in front of him.

“I…I…yes, I did,” she said.

“Well, let´s hit the floor,” he said taking her arm and leading her away. She glanced back over her shoulder apologetically.

Obi-Wan put his hands on his hips and said, “This will never do.” He then marched with very loud squeaks out of the ballroom and straight out the hotel door. He looked up and down the street until he found what he was looking for. He ran down the sidewalk, careful not to trip himself on the shoes, and yanked off the wig and nose as he went.

“Darlin´, I haven´t got a thing. It´s the big masquerade ball tonight. I´m completely cleaned out.”

“But I need a costume.”

“You seem to have a costume,” the shopkeeper said with a slight snicker.

“Please,” Obi-Wan practically whined, “I´ll take whatever you have left.”

“There´s nothing left but what you see out here,” she pointed around the store to the few pathetic costumes that were as bad as his. “Wait a minute,” she said as she walked into a room behind the counter. She returned with a black costume of some sort. “I had this reserved for someone, but he never came to pick it up. It´s a….” She played with the tag and pushed her glasses up her nose. “Looks like a Corellian Pirate.”

“I´ll take it,” he said immediately.

“OK, that´ll be forty credits.”

Obi-Wan then realized that he had no money with him. The horror must have translated to his expression.

“If you promise to bring it back first thing in the morning—“ She couldn´t help but take pity on him.

“I promise. Thank you. Do you have someplace where I can change?”

“Sure.” She handed him the costume and pointed toward the dressing room. “I just hope that Master Jinn doesn´t show up for it before then.”

Obi-Wan stopped dead in his tracks. He turned slowly to face her. “What?”

“Master Jinn. I have his name on the reserve list for this costume. He asked us to hold it for a friend of his, but he never came to pick it up. Do you know him?”

Obi-Wan stood in front of the mirror and held the costume in front of him, noting how it was perfectly his size. “No, never heard of him,” he responded as he swiftly shut the curtain to the dressing room.

Once dressed, he examined his appearance in the mirror, noting how Qui-Gon´s costume was the same as this one. “How shocking,” he said quietly and extremely sarcastically. “Afraid of a little competition, eh Master?” He attached the old-fashioned sword and belt to the tight black pants and then unfastened another button on his shirt for good measure. He smirked. “Well, old man, you´ve had your fun. Now it´s my turn.” Obi-Wan quickly exited the store and headed back to the hotel.

Obi-Wan swaggered into the ballroom. He passed Tath and flashed him a big cocky grin as Tath pretended not to see him. “Ladies,” Obi-Wan said as he paused in front of the women that were formerly gathered around Tath. Then he searched the room until he saw Qui-Gon and Mace still chatting with the Chancellor.

Obi-Wan fought to keep a straight face at the look on Qui-Gon´s face as he approached. “I decided to join you after all, Master,” Obi-Wan said rather innocently.

Mace, never to be fooled by anyone, figured out the situation in a matter of moments. “Nice costume, Obi-Wan,” he said with an amused tone. “Rather like looking in a mirror, eh Qui-Gon?” Mace slapped his friend on the shoulder. “Or not,” Mace chuckled.

Qui-Gon shot Mace a glare and attempted to respond, but Obi-Wan beat him to the punch. “That´s alright, Master, you just take it easy over here. I´m going to go have some of that fun that we young people participate in, just like you suggested.” Obi-Wan grinned and walked away from the pleasant sound of Mace´s laughter and Qui-Gon´s silence.

He circled the room until he found her standing with that Markal and a few other people. He stood there for a moment, but her back was to him. He slowly strode toward her, now confident again without that ridiculous costume. “Hello,” he said as he stood directly behind her, oblivious to Markal´s glare.

She turned and smiled at him. “Hello,” she said pleasantly.

He could tell by her expression that his identity was lost on her. “You never told me your name,” he said.

She furrowed her brow slightly, not recognizing his face. But his voice registered in her ears. “Obi-Wan?” she said hesitantly.

He smiled and extended his hand. “Would you like to dance?”

She nodded with wide eyes and placed her small hand in his. He led her to the floor, and she shivered as his arm slid around her back.

“You still haven´t told me your name,” he said.

She looked up to answer, but was caught off guard at how close his face was to hers. She looked down again without answering.

“Are you alright?” he asked.

“I…I think this was easier for me when you had that silly costume,” she said quietly before a furious blush reddened her face.

“Oh. Well, I´m sorry to disappoint you,” he said.

“No,” she quickly replied. “No, it´s just that…uh….” She looked into his eyes again and couldn´t do anything but giggle. “You weren´t very intimidating that way.”

“And I am now?” he asked.

She nodded, “A little.”

“Well, I don´t mean to be,” he said.

She grinned. “Oh, I think you do.”

Obi-Wan grinned. “Well maybe to him,” he said gesturing toward Markal. “But not to you…whoever you are.”

“Jaelyn. My name is Jaelyn.”

“Well, Jaelyn, it is a pleasure to meet you.”

“And you, Obi-Wan.”

As the slow song ended, they remained embraced. “I don´t want to keep you from your friends,” Obi-Wan said.

“Please do,” she said softly.

He leaned forward and placed a light kiss on her forehead. “Let´s get something to eat, shall we?” He raised her hand to his lips and placed a chaste kiss on her fingers, keeping his eyes on hers. He then put his arm around her shoulders and escorted her off the dance floor.

Qui-Gon watched as his padawan courted the lovely young woman. “We´re old aren´t we?” he said to Mace.

“Maybe you are,” Mace said.

“Then what are you doing standing over here with me while all the padawans are out there where the women are?”

The two Jedi Masters stared at each other for a moment and then quickly headed toward the center of the room, never ever to be outdone by mere padawans.

“What´s so funny?” Jaelyn asked.

“Oh, just my Master trying to dance, that´s all,” Obi-Wan responded with a chuckle. He scooted his chair closer to hers. “That´s him there,” he said pointing toward Qui-Gon.

Jaelyn giggled. “Well, at least he´s trying and not just standing in the corner all by himself,” she said with an eyebrow raised at Obi-Wan. “Besides, it´s good for old people to have some fun once in a while.”

“Yes, I suppose you´re right. Keeping him from becoming positively ancient is probably to my benefit,” Obi-Wan said.

“Watch who you´re calling old,” came a voice from the side. Jaelyn looked up to see a woman with long, straight red hair dressed in a form fitting black dress walking past their table and toward Qui-Gon.

“Uh-oh,” Obi-Wan said.

“You know her?” Jaelyn asked.

“Oh yes. If he doesn´t have a heart attack, my Master should rather enjoy himself this evening. He has a distinct weakness for redheads, especially for that one,” Obi-Wan said.

Jaelyn noticed that the woman had the letters JH embroidered in silver on her sleeve. “Oh my gosh! That´s not—“

“Yep, that´s her. The one and only,” Obi-Wan said with a smile as he watched his Master´s face change from boredom to intense interest as she approached him.

As the music changed, glitter began to slowly shimmer down from the ceiling. Obi-Wan gasped and grabbed Jaelyn´s hand. “C´mon, we have to dance.” Jaelyn had to run to keep up with him as their bodies were covered in sparkling silver and gold. Obi-Wan stopped suddenly and Jaelyn ran right into his back. He turned and grabbed her shoulder with one hand and her cheek with the other. He leaned in and brushed his soft lips against hers. “OK, now we can dance,” he said.

“I don´t think I can move,” she said as loudly as she could.

He put his arm around her waist and pulled her close. “Then I´ll just stand here and look at you,” he said as he placed his forehead against hers as the glitter continued to cascade down on them like soft snow, the evening providing far more treats for them than tricks on this Halloween.