I started awake. As my dreams of running from blaster fire faded, I slowly struggled to comprehend where I was. Then, I remembered, I was on Coruscant, a planet which until the unbelievable events of today, had only existed in fiction. Or at least that was what I thought. But here I was, curled up on the couch in the quarters of Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn and his Padawan, Obi-Wan Kenobi, wrapped up in a robe belonging to Master Qui-Gon himself. I shook my head in disbelief. Were it not for the comforting feel of the robe around me, I would have thought myself to be dreaming. The room was bathed in a soft glow coming from the lightly tinted glass - transparisteel, I corrected myself - window. Forgetting it was the middle of the day and thinking it to be the light of dawn, I pushed myself up from the couch, eager to get another glimpse of Coruscant. What I saw took my breath away, for it was not so much the light of day that came through the portal but sunlight reflected off countless buildings as far as the eye could see, buildings that reached for skies which were criss-crossed by traffic lanes of starships. I stood there for a long moment, taking it all in, still in some disbelief that I was actually here.

"Magnificent, isn't it?" said a soft voice behind me.

I started. It was Master Qui-Gon, clad in a light robe. Despite his large frame, his movements had not betrayed his presence until he spoke. "I'm sorry to have startled you," he added gently.

"It is beautiful," I smiled in agreement.

"You seem to find a certain comfort in our robes." He paused, studying me intently. "Obi-Wan used to feel the same way about mine," Qui-Gon added, gesturing at the brown garment I still clutched tightly around me.

I shot him an embarrassed glance. "My apologies, Master Qui-Gon," I said, trying to hide my obvious fondness for the piece of clothing as I started to remove Obi-Wan's robe from my shoulders.

In response, Qui-Gon moved instead to wrap it tightly around me. "It was merely an observation. Obi-Wan has no need of it at the moment." His mouth curved upwards with the hint of a smile. "Were you having trouble sleeping?" he continued smoothly, possibly in an attempt to ease my embarrassment. "Cold, perhaps?"

I shook my head. "It's not that..." I trailed off uncertainly.

Qui-Gon nodded in understanding. "What you've been through would trouble anyone," he said softly, gazing out the window, eyes distant.

"Even a Jedi?" The words slipped out before I could stop them.

Qui-Gon shot me an amused glance. "Yes, even a Jedi." He paused. "Especially a Jedi," he murmured.

Without asking, I knew he was referring to the earlier discovery that I had no midi-chlorian count whatsoever. How would Qui-Gon react, I mused, if our roles had been reversed, if he had dropped into my galaxy, where if I were any indication, no one had any midi-chlorians? I could not even begin to imagine the loss a Jedi would feel without his connection to the Force.

As if sensing my thoughts, Qui-Gon put his hand on my shoulder and gently but firmly drew me away from the window. "The ways of the Force are mysterious, but all will be revealed in time, as it always is. For now, you must get more rest."

I nodded and turned towards the couch.

Instead, Qui-Gon directed me towards the door of his bedroom. "I have a feeling you will be more comfortable in my bed." As if anticipating my protests, he added, "I will have to rise soon anyway," he offered by means of explanation.

I could not quite keep my heart from pounding at this suggestion. Sleep in Master Qui-Gon's bed! Everyone back home would die of jealousy. A grin appeared on my face before I could stop it.

Qui-Gon nodded, almost to himself. "My Padawan has the same reaction whenever I suggest that to him."

I flushed in embarrassment, throwing him a curious look but choosing not to say anything in reply lest my voice betray my thoughts further. I settled into Qui-Gon's still warm bed and snuggled further into the robe. The Jedi Master had disappeared quietly into the other room after making sure I was comfortable.

Despite still being exhausted by the day's events, I found I could not fall asleep. I lay there, trying to calm myself, but only succeeded in doing the opposite. My heart was pounding, not only from reliving the day's events, but also from Qui-Gon's scent which surrounded me. I sighed and turned over. This would not do, I chided myself.

"Stacey. Here, drink some of this." Qui-Gon had returned, again without my noticing. He held out a glass of warm liquid. "It's a Corellian concoction. It will help calm you." I shot him a guilty look. He hadn't been able to pick up my thoughts had he? He couldn't have. I accepted the glass and took a sip. It had a nutty flavour.

"Thank you," I said simply. "You and Obi-Wan have been very kind."

Qui-Gon shrugged imperceptibly. "It is our duty to aid and protect those in need."

"Nevertheless, I thank you, Master Qui-Gon."

"Stacey, I have said before, there is no need for you to refer to me as Master," he reminded me softly.

It was my turn to shrug. "It is a term of respect," I replied, echoing my earlier words. I stopped, not wanting to say more.

Qui-Gon's blue eyes gazed at me piercingly. There was a brief silence, then he nodded in acknowledgement. "Very well." He paused to remove the empty glass from my hand. "I will stay with you until you fall asleep."

"Master, there is no need to further trouble yourself on my account," I protested. "For now, at least," I added weakly.

Brushing aside my protests, he settled himself next to me on the bed, leaning against the wall. "As I recall, you had no trouble falling asleep on my shoulder in the escape pod," he said quietly, but with a slight smile on his lips.

I flushed again. Does he have any idea what effect he has on me? I wondered. I knew he could not sense my feelings but a Jedi Master as wise as he would have no trouble reading a person's facial expressions and body language, and mine must certainly have been broadcasting my thoughts clearly enough. Why is he being so kind? My mind persisted in rambling, despite all my efforts to calm it. Master Qui-Gon was kind and compassionate, I knew, but sitting by me till I fell asleep? No one had thought to do that since I was a child! His simple offer moved me more than I thought it could. I quelled my protests, for I found myself suddenly eager for his comforting presence, and besides, I thought to myself, it was certainly too good an offer to pass up. Not saying anything more, I leaned against him as he drew the robe towards us, placing his arm around me so that I was leaning on his chest. I felt myself surrounded by his warmth and a welcome feeling of calm and peacefulness washed over me. My eyes closed slowly as I let out a small sigh of contentment. The last thing I remembered bef ore I drifted off into a deep sleep was the strong, rhythmic beating of Qui-Gon's heart accompanying the rise and fall of his chest beneath my head.

On to part 3

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