Dande--this is for you. Since you saw me writing Bombad Mastah Action in your tea bag, I'd hate to make a liar out of you. However . . . forgive me of the Bombad Mastah isn't quite the one getting the action. (Come on, it's ME. I don't do Qui-Gon without significant monetary compensation--or at least the bribe of a paddlewan or three.)

~*~

"You've got messages," Clotho remarked as he glanced up from where he was pouring over an astro-navigation textbook. "Are you going to read them?"

Shawn glanced at his computer, shrugging his shoulder casually before turning back to his astro-physics problems. "I'll do it later. Did you figure out problem four?"

"Thirty-seven klicks, and why will you do it later?" Craning his neck, Clotho squinted his eyes. "Ahhh, that's Siona's ident number." The felinoid Padawan smiled smugly at Shawn, turning amber eyes back to their studies. "That explains it."

"That explains what?" Shawn demanded, green eyes narrowing. Tossing his comp pad aside he propped his head up on his hands. "What exactly does that explain?"

"Why you won't read it when I'm here." Smiling, Clotho rolled over and stretched slowly. "You're wasting effort, Shawn--I know what it says."

"Do tell," Shawn drawled, astro-physics totally forgotten.

Clotho rolled his eyes. "Shawn, she asked my advice before she wrote it." Clotho slid gracefully to his feet, textbook in one hand. "Just read it--and do me a favor. Be careful." Without saying another word, Clotho slipped out the door. Shawn heard his friend exchanging polite conversation with Master Windu, but his focus was already on the computer.

Sighing he rose to his feet, padding across the room and calling up his new messages. Several sat waiting for him, the one from Siona at the top. Settling into his chair he opened it.

'Shawn--,' the letter started. 'Remember a few years ago you asked me that question I didn't have an answer to? You've been harassing me ever since. At first I didn't have an answer--then I just didn't want to tell you.'

Shawn remembered the question well--but he hadn't asked it lately, all too afraid Siona would answer. Siona had hardly been subtle in her crush on Master Windu, and hearing that the woman he was enamored of wanted her first sexual experience to be with his Master was a little more than Shawn felt like dealing with.

'Fine, I'm telling you now. You, Shawn. The answer is you. And I'm not just telling you, Shawn. I'm asking you. As for the time--tonight. I'll be waiting at the first evening hour. If you're there . . . .'

The letter trailed off there, but no more was needed. Shawn stared at the screen wide-eyed, reading the letter a second and then a third time before it finally sunk in.

A year of chasing, and he'd finally caught her. Finally convinced Siona Ja'Larkin that he wanted to be hers--

--and that she should be his.

It was all he could do not to sing.

~~~~~~~

"If you don't stop pacing, I'm going to knock you unconscious," Clotho whispered, rolling his eyes as Siona continued to pace the small confines of her bedroom. "You know, Qui-Gon's probably going to figure out that something is going on."

That stopped Siona dead. Violet eyes widened as a dull flush filled her cheeks. "I can't let him find out," Siona whispered, settling down onto her bed with a thump. "I don't think I can even face him again--after he found out about Mace . . ."

"Calm down." The felinoid covered his eyes with one hand. "I will be so glad when the two of you are done dancing around each other. I'm spending more of my time as a second rate matchmaker and love counselor than I am training to be a Jedi."

"Am I doing the wrong thing?" Siona asked suddenly. "I--maybe I should ask Master Qui-Gon."

"You'd blush yourself to death," Clotho responded. "Don't worry so much, Siona. This isn't quite as big a deal as you think."

"You don't know," Siona snapped, tossing a pillow at her friend. "You're not exactly humanoid."

"You might be surprised by this," Clotho drawled, "But my species mates too."

"I hate that term," Siona replied with a grimace. "It sounds so . . . scientific."

"It's a natural thing. Stop getting all uptight about it." Pulling Siona into a gentle hug, Clotho sighed. "I love you like a sister, Siona--but sometimes I have to overwhelming urge to just smack you aside the head."

"And why would that be?" Siona demanded, trying to struggle out of his embrace. Clotho's arms just tightened.

"Because you complicate everything. You wouldn't be a good little girl and fall in love with your Master, instead you fell in love with his best friend. Then you fall in love with his best friend's Padawan." Pulling back, Clotho offered Siona a crooked grin. "By the time you actually get around to falling in love with your Master, you might actually be old enough to be taken seriously."

"Think of all the conventions that would break," Siona muttered, swatting at her friend. "Thank you, Clotho--but next time you offer to come over and comfort me, I'll just jump off one of the skyways first."

"Pleased to be of service. Now go eat some dinner with your Master." Smiling, Clotho padded towards the door. "And try to keep the goofy grin off of your face during practice tomorrow. It's a dead give away."

"I'll remember that," Siona responded dryly, gathering herself up to follow Clotho out the door.

"Take care, Master Jinn," Clotho said with a respectful bow as he passed Siona's Master.

"Padawan Clotho," Qui-Gon responded with a smile. "Always a pleasure. Give my regards to your Master."

"Of course," Clotho responded smoothly, sliding out the door.

"I'm glad you and Clotho and Shawn get along so well," Qui-Gon said with a smile, ruffling Siona's short hair on his way past her back to the kitchen. "You're just like Mace and Rees and I were when we were your age."

"I do enjoy their company," Siona responded politely, following her Master and starting to set the table. "I hope you three enjoy your night out."

"I'm sure we will. It's not often that we all have a break--and this will be the first time we've had a chance to get away since our Padawan's became old enough to look after themselves for a night." Qui-Gon smiled as Siona. "You can look after yourself, Padawan, can't you?"

"Of course," Siona choked out, trying to force down the rising blush in her cheeks.

"Good. Let's settle down for dinner."

~~~~~~

"Do you know what's going on?" Mace demanded when the three men met in the common area in front of the lower Temple doors.

"What are you talking about?" Rees asked, giving Mace a questioning look. "I haven't noticed anything particuarly odd going on in the galaxy lately."

Mace leveled a narrow gaze at his friend. "I was speaking of our Padawans," he grumbled. "Shawn hasn't sat in the same place for more than two nanoseconds since he and Clotho finished studying this afternoon. And he looks too damned pleased with himself."

"Now that you mention it, Siona was behaving rather oddly during dinner," Qui-Gon said thoughtfully.

"Oh dear," Rees said suddenly, obviously connecting something in his head. "Clotho went straight from Shawn's room to Siona's--and he came back with that smile he always has when he's been meddling." Rees looked at Mace, and both men burst out laughing.

"And that means . . ." Qui-Gon looked back and forth between his two oldest friends. Mace had developed a somewhat sly grin, and Rees was obviously holding back a wide smile. "Rees . . . Mace . . ."

"That means . . ." Rees trailed off, obviously searching for a word. "What did they used to call it in those horrible holovids?"

"Booty call," Mace gasped, doubling back over with laughter.

Qui-Gon's eyes went wide, mouth falling open. For a few moments he just stood there, flailing like a fish out of water.

Before either of the two men convulsing with laughter could blink, Qui-Gon had spun on his heel with a snarl. "I don't think so," he rumbled, stalking back the way they had come. Rees snagged Qui-Gon's arm and tugged him to a halt before he could make it very far, still trying to contain laughter.

"Oh calm down, Qui-Gon," Mace wheezed. "I think your hair is actually bristling." That set Rees off again, and Qui-Gon pulled away.

"My Padawan is barely sixteen years old--"

"One cycle shy of seventeen," Mace interjected. "That's not just barely where /I'm/ from."

Qui-Gon leveled a finger at Mace. "She's too young!" he exploded.

"How old were you when you and Adi . . ." Mace cut off as Qui-Gon spun, mouth opening again. Throwing up his hands in defeat, Mace started laughing again. "Okay, okay. I won't bring it up."

"Qui-Gon, Siona is old enough and responsible enough to be making her own decisions," Rees said, voice calm. "She won't thank you for barging in there and embaressing her. Not to mention it's really none of your damn business."

"I know what's wrong," Mace said with a grin. "Since Siona never developed a crush on Qui-Gon, he's decided to develop one on her."

Qui-Gon's face went red. "Mace Windu . . ."

"That's the Jinn we know and love," Mace said, moving backwards out the door. "C'mon, Jinn. Lets go out and have some fun. Let the children play."

"Shawn is a good man," Rees said softly, patting Qui-Gon on the shoulder. "Don't worry about it."

"Easy for you to say," Qui-Gon rumbled, following Rees out the door. "He's not after Clotho."

~~~~~~~~~

Siona found it strange that all of her nervousness had evaporated around the same time that her Master left. She knew what was in store for her tonight--and now she was more excited than anything else. Sitting calmly on one of the low couches in the common room, Siona closed her eyes and let her mind drift.

She recognized it barely with one part of her mind when Shawn let himself in, slipping almost silently through the doors. She opened her eyes just as he reached the couch, dropping a kiss on the top of her head before sliding to kneel at her feet. "Siona," he said softly, voice warm as he let his hands fall to rest on her knees.

"Shawn," Siona replied just as softly. Smiling she grasped his hands between her own, tugging him up into kissing distance. "Thank you," she whispered, curling gentle fingers into his short hair. Then, without waiting a moment longer, she opened her mind to him and kissed him.

~*~

Mace was just starting to enjoy the evening when Qui-Gon rose suddenly to his feet, spilling an entire glass of expensive ale in Mace's lap.

"What the--" Springing to his feet, Mace still barely had time to nab Qui-Gon's arm as the larger man spun to stalk towards the door, eyes blazing.

Rees grabbed Qui-Gon's other arm, shooting Mace narrow-eyed look as he raised his free hand to mime tugging on a Padawan braid.

Eyes going wide with sudden comprehension, Mace dropped his shields for just long enough to ascertain that Shawn was indeed having a good time.

A very good time.

Slamming his shields back up, Mace turned to Qui-Gon. "Qui-Gon . . . she's old enough to--"

"What is he doing to her?" Qui-Gon thundered. Several nearby customers took hesitant steps back, eyeing the towering, fuming Jedi with no little trepidation.

Just at that moment Rees's comlink beeped, and he freed Qui-Gon's arm long enough to answer it.

"Uhh . . Master . . ." Clotho's voice sounded distinctly uncomfortable. "You--you might want to be warned . . . watch Master Jinn."

"A little late," Rees muttered dryly. "Why are you calling? What is going on?"

"Well . . ." Clotho's voice /definitely/ sounded uncomfortable. "You know how Siona is really strong with the living Force?"

"Yes," Rees answered cautiously, wincing as Qui-Gon's gaze narrowed in on him at the mention of his Padawan's name.

"She--well she seems to have, uh--opened all of her bonds instead of just opening up to Shawn. I--I'm getting no small amount of feedback here . . . I don't even want to think what Qu--what Master Jinn is going to be receiving." A slight pause before he continued in a slightly strangled voice . . . "And she's damned good at projecting."

The comlink was snatched out of Rees' hand before he could respond. "What is Shawn doing to my Padawan?" Qui-Gon demanded. Rolling his eyes, Rees snagged the comlink back, muttering a quick thank you to Clotho before turning it off.

"You know exactly what Shawn is doing to your Padawan," Rees snapped. "And you will not interrupt. Qui-Gon, behave like an adult here. Can't you just shut down the bond and block her projecting?"

"The bond /is/ as shut down as it can be without breaking it," Qui-Gon growled. "She is a very strong projector."

"Then go take a cold shower," Rees responded. "In my rooms--you'll not be going back to yours tonight."

Mace snickered, then ducked as Qui-Gon spun on him. "Your Padawan had better be careful . . . Dark Side or no I will /hurt/ him if he hurts her."

"The Force forbid you ever have a daughter, Qui-Gon Jinn," Rees muttered, pushing his friend back into his seat. "She'd never see the light of day."

"Siona may never see it again," Qui-Gon muttered, reaching out to wrap his fingers around his glass. It was only a few inches off the table when he dropped it with a muttered curse, face going pale.

"Qui-Gon?" When the large man gave no response, Rees turned to look at Mace. "Windu?"

"Just leave him alone for a few moments," Mace said with a pained look on his face. "From the echoes I'm getting from Shawn, that might be best."

"Note to self," Rees muttered. "Train all Padawans in correct shielding procedures."

~*~

Shawn rolled over slightly, tugging Siona tighter against his side. "Sure you're okay?" he murmured softly, nuzzling her neck gently with his nose.

"Fine," Siona replied languidly, turning over to kiss Shawn's nose. "I'm fine. A little tired after the last few hours . . . but definitely fine."

Before Shawn could respond a comlink started beeping somewhere in the room. Rolling her eyes, Siona sat up and started casting about for who's it was.

It was Shawn who snagged his belt from where it had landed on Siona's desk and flipped the switch. "Shawn," he muttered, voice annoyed.

"Uhh--you guys might want to get out of Siona's apartment and go to yours," Clotho's voice came through, causing Siona's eyes to widen. "Master Qui-Gon is not to pleased with you at the moment, Shawn."

"How do you know that?" Siona called out, tugging her shirt back on as she crawled to the edge of the bed. "Is he mad at me?"

"I don't know," Clotho responded. "Just--clear out and give him some space. My Master told me to call you two and warn you."

Shawn dropped the comlink on the bed and sat down next to Siona. "I have a feeling I'm in serious trouble," he muttered, turning to give Siona a wide-eyed look. "I don't particuarly want to deal with a snarly Qui-Gon Jinn. He'll eat me for breakfast."

"He can't do anything," Siona reassured him somewhat hesitantly. "I mean--it's not like you did anything wrong." Crawling over to the side of the bed, Siona tossed his shirt and pants at him. "But just in case . . ."

"How do you think he found out?" Shawn said suddenly. "I didn't think to ask--and Clotho said that /Rees/ warned him." Shawn's eyes went suddenly wide. "Does that mean my Master knows too?"

"Your Master would just be proud of you," Siona replied dryly. "I'm the one with the overprotective Master." Pulling her own pants on, Siona tugged her robe off of the floor. "Let's just go somewhere else, okay?"

"Where will I be safe," Shawn mused, ducking as Siona swatted at the back of his head. "I'll have to change my name . . . maybe grow a beard an dye my hair. Probably move to Hoth or some equally inhospitable planet . . ."

"Maybe I should stay here," Siona said suddenly. "I mean--I can prove to him that everything is okay. And I owe it to him . . . he is my Master. Maybe I did something wrong."

"You didn't do anything wrong," Shawn reassured her hastily. Tugging his boots on, he held out one hand to her. "Would you like to come with me? Or I could stay here--I'm not afraid to face your Master. After all--he's a Jedi. What can he do to me without breaking the Code."

"Get Master Windu to assign you extra 'sabre practice?" Siona offered, tugging her own boots on. "I don't know--I just want to give him a chance to cool down. Maybe figure out what I did wrong. I must have done something . . ."

Grasping Siona's hand, Shawn pulled her up off of the bed. "Let's discuss it when were safely hidden somewhere. I don't want to die yet, Siona. I'm only eighteen."

Rolling her eyes, Siona led the way out the door. "I don't think he'd kill you, Shawn," she said, grinning at him over her shoulder. "That's not his style. Slow torture, I think."

Siona was still trying to figure out why Shawn's face had gone deathly pale when she ran into a wall.

A wall that caught her in firm hands as she stumbled back, trying to catch her balance. Sneaking a peek upwards, Siona's eyes went pale when they met a very familiar blue gaze.

"Uh--hi, Master," Siona said softly, scrambling out of his grasp and bowing deeply.

"Hello, Padawan," Qui-Gon said evenly.

"Hello Siona," a voice from behind Qui-Gon said, and Siona's eyes flew to the friendly face of Rees. He smiled encouragingly at her, before taking a step forward and casting Qui-Gon a meaningful look.

Qui-Gon gave a startled grunt suddenly, glaring at Rees. "I trust you had a good evening," Qui-Gon said, his voice sounding strained.

"Y-y-yes, Master," Siona stuttered, eyes going back and forth between Rees and Qui-Gon. Behind her she could feel Shawn, still frozen to the ground in apprehension.

"Well I won't keep you," Qui-Gon said, his face still frozen into a pleasant mask. "You two run along, but make sure you're home in time for practice tomorrow."

Siona simply stared at her Master, face pale, until Shawn nudged her. Confused, Siona bowed to both men, leading Shawn from the room with one last glance over her shoulder at her Master.

"You didn't have to pinch me," Qui-Gon grumbled after the door had closed, rubbing a hand across his upper arm. "I was going to behave."

"Somehow I doubt that," Rees grinned. "Don't worry--you struck enough fear into poor Shawn to last him until his Trials." Shaking his head, Rees pushed Qui-Gon towards the chairs. "I thought we were going to play chess."

Qui-Gon settled down across from his friend, trying to keep his mind focused on the game. It was actually going pretty well until he felt the first twinges of passion echoing down the bond with his Padawan again.

His eyes went wide, his chess piece sliding from numb fingers. Catching the dumbstruck expression on his friend's face, Rees struggled to hide a grin.

"Is it what I think it is?" Rees inquired politely.

Qui-Gon stared. "I'm going to kill that boy," he snarled.

"Ahhh," Rees said, leaning back in his chair. "For the stamina of youth again . . ."

~*~

Fin