Obi-Wan inhaled slowly and deeply, drawing his mind into focus. His next move would certainly determine his fate. He relaxed his jaw, unclenching his teeth and letting the calm spread down his neck and his shoulders. He felt the bright vibration all around and inside him, fortifying his body and enlightening his mind. And yet, as he immersed himself in the sagacious energy, his options seemed to become more and more limited. If he went too much longer without acting, he would certainly suffer a calamitous blow.

He closed his eyes, swallowed hard, and said, “You’re right. I’m sorry,” into the receiver of his vid phone, having turned off the video screen under penalty of death. He then waited with great trepidation, the normally quiet hiss of the phone line suddenly becoming a deafening din.

Obi-Wan cleared his throat quietly. “Umm…are you still there?” He cringed slightly when he heard an irked huff on the other end of the line.

“Of. Course. I’m. Still. Here.”

“Oh,” he said quietly.

“So,” came the irritated voice, “are you coming or not?”

“Did you…want me to?”

A sigh. “Obi-Wan, would I ask you if I didn’t want you to?”

He bit his lip. “No, I suppose not.”

“Hey, if you don’t want to come, just say so, alright?”

“I didn’t say—“

“You know, I’ve had a really CRAPPY week.”

“I’m sorry, I—“

“And I’m in NO MOOD for you to give me hard time.”

Obi-Wan scratched his head and then squeezed his hair in frustration. “I am not giving you a hard time. I didn’t say anything that—“

“My other line is beeping.”

“Fine,” he said quietly. “I will see you in a few….” The click on the other end halted his words. He exhaled loudly as he hung up the phone. He tried to banish the dread that filled his heart as he prepared to leave the safety of his flat. But if he didn’t go…. Well, he would rather face a Sith Lord than deal with that repercussion.

As he slowly walked up the stairs to her apartment door, he reminded himself how much he loved her, the precious feeling that reached deep into his soul when he held her in his arms in the middle of the night, the fact that she probably wouldn’t think twice about clawing out his eyeballs given the nature of their phone conversation. Obi-Wan mentally reassured himself that he had safety locked his saber as he lightly knocked on the door. He heard her quick footsteps and steeled himself at the sound of the locks turning. He put on a pleasant, but not eager, smile as the door opened.

“Hi!!”

The shock of her happy squeal barely gave Obi-Wan time to set his footing as she jumped into his arms. Deciding it best not to grapple with confusion and choosing instead to simply live in the moment, he embraced her tightly and placed a grateful kiss on her cheek. “I missed you.”

His soft, rich voice made her shiver. She leaned back slightly and stroked his cheek with her fingers. “I missed you, too.”

“Really?”

“Yes, really,” she giggled at his lopsided grin.

“Well then,” he purred, gently pushing her inside the apartment and closing the door behind them. Then he pulled her to him and kissed her, his lips softly teasing at first until he heard her soft whimper. Obi-Wan plunged his fingers into her hair and showed her his hunger, slowly but ravenously sliding his lips along hers, his tongue snaking into her mouth as she pressed her body into him with a breathy moan. Encouraged, and somewhat impatient from his three-week mission, he smoothly ran his hand up the front of her thin sweater, his fingers gently cupping her breast, his thumb barely teasing her nipple.

“Mmmmhhh,” she moaned intently into his mouth, suddenly clenching his robe in her hand.

Taking the cue, Obi-Wan delicately massaged her breast, leaning her back into the wall.

“I said OUCH,” she exclaimed, pushing him away.

“You did?”

“Yes,” she said, her voice annoyed.

“Oh.” Obi-Wan stood perfectly still, his hand still on her body, not entirely certain what he should or shouldn’t be doing.

“I said,” she huffed, grabbing his wrist and pushing his arm away from her, “you’re hurting me.”

Obi-Wan raised his eyebrows in surprise. “How?”

She glared at him, her hands coming up to rest on her hips.

“I mean,” he corrected, “I’m sorry.”

“I told you,” she said, “I’m hormonal, everything is bloated and tender and crampy and—“

“I’m sorry,” he said again just for good measure. He leaned forward and lightly kissed her forehead. “I’ll be careful.” He gently placed his hand on her side.

Suddenly, she slid away from the wall and stepped to his side. “Is that all you think about?”

Obi-Wan gulped. “No.”

“That I just sit here at home waiting for you to return so you can hop on over for some good times? Is that what you think?”

“Of course not, I….” Obi-Wan blinked quickly, his mouth hanging slightly open, inwardly cursing his inability to anticipate this sudden change in direction. He gingerly reached forward and touched her cheek. “You know how important you are to me.”

She quickly bit the insides of her lips, her whole body tensing up from a combination of guilt, irritation, and various ancillary wretched emotions. Gods, he was beautiful, his eyes full of adoration and lust. Then she snorted as his presumptuous behavior and turned her head in the direction of the kitchen as the oven timer began to beep incessantly. “Dinner,” she said, marching toward the noise.

Obi-Wan followed her into the kitchen. “Anything I can do to help,” he asked, placing his hands on her shoulders and leaning forward to kiss her cheek.

“I’ve got it,” she said. “And I’m really not in the mood for THAT,” she said, shrugging his hands off her shoulders and lurching away from him.

Obi-Wan almost sighed, but he knew better than to let her hear that. He backed out of the kitchen and walked over to the couch to sit down, quietly and without any fuss or disturbance. A few moments later, he heard a great clatter on the stovetop followed by an angry curse and loud banging noises. He stood quickly and then cautiously walked to the kitchen, peeking in to find her whacking a spatula on the hood of the stove.

He took a deep breath and said very, very softly, “What’s the matter?”

“It’s ruined,” she snapped, flinging the spatula across the kitchen so it landed with a noisy crash in the dish-filled sink. “That’s what’s fucking the matter. I overcooked the dinner, so we’ll just have to go hungry. I can’t cook, my hair’s a mess, my skin is ugly, I’m cramping, and I just generally feel and look like shit. How’s that?” She spun around to face him.

Obi-Wan felt slightly renewed confidence, having once before faced the I’m-Ugly-and-Worthless-Aren’t-I beast. He stepped forward. “You,” he said softly leaning forward to kiss her forehead, “are beautiful. And your dinner,” he said looking over her shoulder at the slightly blackened lasagna, “looks far better than anything I have eaten in recent memory.”

“Well,” she mumbled, “you’ve been on a mission.”

“Yes, I have,” he said. “With only one goal in mind. To come home and have dinner with you.” He reached over and pulled the spatula out of the sink and began to rinse it off. “Now go sit down at the table. I’ll take it from here.”

She gave him a weak smile and shuffled over to the table, shaming herself for her inability to keep it together. His calm unnerved her when she was so worked up. She sat down with a sigh and watched him while he dished up twice as much food as she’d be able to eat.

Obi-Wan certainly had eaten far worse in his day, so a little overcooking certainly wouldn’t put him off. Perhaps a good showing during dinner would ensure a more peaceful evening. He happily took a bite of the lasagna, the slightly charred flavor and crunchy noodles not deterring him from pleasing her.

She took one small bite and chewed slowly, her throat tightening up as she tasted this disaster. A tiny squeak escaped from her throat as she pursed her lips together, swallowing the food and her sorrow. But it was too late.

Obi-Wan looked up as he heard her sharp intake of breath, finding her staring down at her plate, large tears rolling down her cheeks. “It’s good,” he said, reaching forward to touch her arm.

“It’s terrible,” she squeaked again and louder. She rested her elbows on the table and cried into her hands. “I’m sorry,” she quietly sobbed.

The trials were a cakewalk compared to this. “Hey, hey,” he said softly, rubbing her shoulder. “Don’t…don’t,” he whispered.

“I can’t help it,” she whined. “I’ll be alright,” she sniffled. “Just give me a minute.” She looked up at him, her eyes red and puffy. “Eat your dinner.” Then she dropped her face back into her hands and sobbed quietly.

Two options. Eat. Hold her. Eat. Hold her. Eat. Hold her. Obi-Wan reached out with the Force, trying to get a grasp on her need, but all he encountered was a murky swirl of angst, irritation, pain, and nausea. He decided to eat. And then he realized that her sobs grew the tiniest bit louder with each bite that he took.

“Come here,” he said softly, standing up and reaching for her arms to guide her to her feet. He hugged her against his chest for a moment and then led her to the couch. They sat down side by side as she sniffled and wheezed. Obi-Wan slid his arm around her back and pulled her legs up over his lap, turning her toward him as she buried her face against his neck.

“I’m sorry,” she sniveled.

“It’s alright,” he said.

“I’m a terrible person.”

Obi-Wan smiled softly. “I’ll have none of that, you hear me? You are not a terrible person.”

She nodded against his shoulder, her tears wetting his tunic. “I am.”

“No,” he said, pushing her slightly away until he could see her face. “You are not.” He brushed her wet cheek with his fingers.

“Here you’ve been gone for…for three weeks and all…I-I-I do is bite your head off…burn your…dinner and…c-cry like a…big…baby,” she said through very staggered breaths. “You should be…long…gone by now.”

Obi-Wan smiled warmly, satisfied with this breakthrough. “But I’m still here.”

“Why,” she whispered, her lungs hitching.

“Well….” Obi-Wan considered his thought carefully. Deeming the situation free of hostility, he continued with a grin, “I was hoping to make it out alive so it seemed best to lay low and wait for nightfall.” His grin disappeared as she stared at him blankly. Then she suddenly laughed through her tears. “You gave me that death look on purpose, didn’t you?” he scolded, placing a firm, exaggerated kiss on her cheek.

“I’m sorry,” she laughed, brushing the tears from her face. “You’re just so cute when you’re nervous.”

Now Obi-Wan buried his face in her shoulder. “I’m so confused,” he whined dramatically.

She chuckled and stroked his hair. “I’m sorry, I know I’m very difficult.” She inhaled trying to calm her lungs. In doing so, she was struck right in gut by his scent and his warmth.

Obi-Wan lifted his head as she suddenly began to scramble around, swinging her legs off his lap and moving away from him. “What are you….” He watched in wonder as she quickly straddled his legs, sparks of desire spontaneously shooting out of her. And then her lips landed on his, demanding and hungry.

The fire inside her rose rapidly. She ground her hips against his until she could feel him harden between her legs. “God, I’ve missed you,” she whispered against his lips.

Obi-Wan proceeded with caution, despite this pleasant change of direction. “I…I don’t want to hurt you again.” He gasped as her teeth nipped his earlobe.

She bit her lip and stared into his eyes. Then she reached down and began to unfasten his trousers.

Deciding that was enough prodding, Obi-Wan began to quickly remove his tunics before the situation changed yet again. She quickly stood and tugged on his pants, pulling them down to his knees as he lifted his hips, not bothering with removing his boots. By the time he was out of his tunics, she stood nude before him…and then swiftly climbed back on his lap.

“Touch me,” she growled, grabbing his hand and guiding it between her legs.

Obi-Wan gasped at both her sudden aggressiveness and her slippery desire. He groaned as he slid his fingers through her folds, her body shuddering and gasping as she swayed above him.

She grabbed his arm as his fingers circled her slick clit. His touch felt incredible after too many days without it. She moaned and rocked her hips forward into his fingers, grasping the back of the sofa with her other hand. She leaned her head back as he very softly licked her taut nipple, sighing against her skin as her soft whimpers cascaded down to his ears.

She suddenly curled her body forward, kissing him hard as she spread her knees, her desire for him too urgent for teasing. In one smooth motion she lowered herself on him, guiding his hard shaft inside her tight sheath, her quiet whimpers mixing with his louder moans as he filled her. She immediately began to move, crying out as he rolled his hips up to meet her rhythm.

He gently grabbed her hips, his hands attempting to guide her body down on him as he thrust faster and faster upwards as she began to ride him. He pressed his hips higher, driving his cock deeper inside her, the wet, slippery noise of their conjoined bodies growing louder as her desire seeped out around him.

Her need became frantic as his hard length teased at her clit with every exquisite thrust inside her. “Nnnnggghhh….touch me again….touch me….please,” she whispered desperately.

Obi-Wan groaned as she began to tighten around him. He slipped his hand down between her legs and stroked her swollen, slippery flesh as he dug his heels into the floor, thrusting his hips faster and faster. She leaned forward, pressing frantically into his touch and letting him take over the rhythm, her body bobbing up and down as he pushed her higher and higher.

“Ooohh…Obi-Wan….” she moaned, her voice tightened by anticipation as she rested her cheek against his forehead for a moment before his hips caused her to rise above him again.

“Mmm…aaaahh, baby…come for me…come….”

“Feels so good,” she whimpered. “So good…please….” She threw her head back and cried out as the dam finally broke and the hard, glorious waves of pleasure rocked her body.

Obi-Wan forced his eyes open, watching her ride her orgasm, her grateful moans driving him higher until he toppled over the brink and came with a loud groan, his hot seed bursting inside her as he pumped his hips faster and faster until finally collapsing onto the couch.

Their tangled, sweaty bodies remained motionless for several minutes, save for the steady rise and fall of their chests as their lungs tried to play catch up. Finally, she lifted her head and said between breaths, “Okay, I’m hungry now.”

Obi-Wan chuckled as he brushed stray strands of hair out of her face. He kissed her sweetly and then gently lifted her body up, helping her as she stood on spent legs. She looked around for her clothing and then said, “Well, the sex is over, that means I can put my jammies on now, right?”

“Well, you could just stay like that,” he purred, standing up and kissing her again.

“Not a good idea with the bane of my existence about to arrive at any moment,” she said, giving him a nervous little smile and scampering off to her bedroom.

Obi-Wan pulled his trousers up, removed his boots, and then wandered into the kitchen to reheat her dinner. As she stepped up behind him in her mismatched plaid flannel pajamas, he held her plate out to her.

She grimaced. “I can’t,” she said, rubbing her hand across her abdomen.

“It really is quite good,” Obi-Wan said. “Just take the top layer off, and—“

She smiled weakly. “No, it’s not that. I can’t eat.”

“I thought you were hungry,” he said hesitantly, worried that the mood could change again far too quickly.

She shook her head as she made a little grunting noise.

“What is it?” He stepped forward and placed his hand on her shoulder.

“Major crampage,” she said. “No food.” She groaned as she began to pace back and forth in the hallway between the kitchen and the bedroom. Anger began to rise in her as the preceding, mind-blowing experience was now replaced with sheer, diabolical pain.

“What can I do?” he asked carefully.

A frustrated tear slipped down her cheek as she crouched down on the floor as her discomfort increased. “It’s not fair,” she growled.

In a fraction of an instant he was by her side, bending down and pulling her to her feet.

“No,” she said.

“Let me help.”

“You should just go,” she said quietly.

“I won’t,” he said, ushering her into the bedroom and gently pushing her forward to the bed.

“I can’t lay down,” she said. “It’s too uncomfortable.”

“I won’t leave you sprawled out on the floor,” he said, not entirely sure what to do instead.

She reluctantly crawled on the bed, considering another handful of drugs but the sudden nausea convincing her against it for the moment. Obi-Wan laid down as well placing his hand on her hip as he settled in behind her.

“Please,” she whispered, “don’t touch me right now. It makes it worse.”

“Let me just try something,” he said, spooning his body to hers and placing his hand on her stomach.

The heat of his body was now too uncomfortable for her, the pain increasing as his fingers skated across her front. She cringed and said as nicely as she could muster, “Please, Obi-Wan. I’m not trying to be mean, just please go.”

“Shhh,” he whispered. “Just relax.” He summoned his energies and focused in on her pain, shuddering as it hit him in an unfamiliar and most distressing manner. “Perhaps I should take you to a healer.”

She smiled despite her discomfort. “No, it’s alright. Just normal for me.”

“This is too much,” he whispered.

“Yeah, tell me about it.”

“Now try to relax.”

“I can’t,” she gritted out through her teeth.

“Just try,” he responded as he slowly rubbed her stomach with the palm of his hand. He closed his eyes and focused, sending his protection around her body and the light of his healing energy inside her.

She gasped as she felt his warmth envelop her and the sudden tingling underneath his hand. “What are you doing?”

“Shhhh.” He swallowed hard as he slowly began to take her pain from her in small amounts and then released it. “Sleep now,” he said, sending a gentle, calming whisper into her mind.

She sighed as her pain gradually began to dissipate, her muscles relaxing as the stress of it flowed out of her. She snuggled into the safety of his embrace and closed her eyes.

“There now,” he whispered.

“Obi-Wan?”

“Hmm?”

“Don’t go.”

“Never,” he said, sliding his leg over hers and pulling her closer.

And in this sanctuary she drifted off to sleep.