Title: Home Away

By: Leiasky

Rating: PG, I think J

Disclaimer: Qui-Gon belongs to Sir George. Lilith, Rez, and Kala belong to Aya.

Archive: Anywhere just please place a link to Aya's stories since they are the basis for this one.

Author's Notes: Thanks and many {{{HUGS}}}} to Aya for letting me play in her toy box.

Story Summary: Obi-Wan and Anakin arrive on Tatooine for a much needed vacation just as Lilith leaves on a business trip.

Series: Yes. Read Aya's stories titled 'Skin Trade' and 'What You Desire' to fully understand this.

Takes place directly before Aya's story titled "Coming Home"

"You look pathetic, Lilith whirled on Qui-Gon as he stood at the ramp to her personal shuttle.

He chuckled slightly, but the loneliness clouding his eyes was evident, "You're leaving me."

Lilith narrowed her eyes. "You chose not accompany me."

Qui-Gon nodded and turned when he felt Anakin and Obi-Wan approach. The older man waved them closer and turned once again to face the departing woman.

Lilith leaned into his open arms and kissed him deeply, her tongue snaking into his mouth.

Qui-Gon wrapped his arms around her shoulders, pulling her deeper into the kiss. One hand slid into her hair, holding her mouth to his, the other rested lightly against her neck. He nibbled on her lower lip, biting and then kissing it before releasing her.

"To remember me." He said simply and Lilith's eyes brightened.

"I think last night was a better reminder." She shot back and he chuckled.

"I have you with me always, Jinn." She ran a slim hand down her shoulder over the stylized J she'd had tattooed onto her skin.

His hand slid down her shoulder and covered her hand, squeezing it gently.

He bent and brushed his lips across hers one last time before stepping away from the boarding ramp. She favored the three Jedi with a quick wave and a smile before she climbed into the ship.

"Master Qui-Gon!" Anakin's childish smile drew Qui-Gon's gaze away from the closing ramp.

The Jedi Master knelt and embraced the young Padawan, surprising him.

"Its good to see you, Anakin." Qui-Gon smiled into the boy's eyes before he stood. "Have you seen your mother yet?"

"Not yet, Master. Mistress Kala sent us out here."

Qui-Gon turned to Obi-Wan and gripped his hand in a firm greeting. "Welcome back."

A heavy sigh followed the words and Qui-Gon's brow furrowed. "That bad, hmm?"

"I can see why you valued your time away from the Temple so much."

At that, Qui-Gon laughed, low and deep, clasping his former Padawan's shoulder and leading him towards the compound entrance.

Once inside, Qui-Gon turned to Kala. "Could you take Anakin to Shmi please?"

"Of course, Master. This way Anakin." Kala favored the two men with a slight nod before indicating the way with a slim blue hand.

"This way," Qui-Gon motioned in the opposite direction and Obi-Wan followed wordlessly.

They walked in silence for a bit, Obi-Wan studying the apparent change that had come over his master in the few months that he had been gone.

"What is it?" Qui-Gon turned to his friend, eyes narrowed.

"In the few minutes that I have been here, I don't think I've ever seen you smile so much." Obi-Wan's eyes narrowed as he smiled. "Its good to see."

Qui-Gon nodded and favored the younger man with a grin. "Being here has done wonders."

"And kept you out of the ever watchful eye of the Council." Obi-Wan noted with a wry grin.

Qui-Gon chuckled. "Yes indeed. Something I never will miss."

They entered Lilith's private chambers and settled into two plush chairs. Kala had thoughtfully prepared a tray of afternoon delicacies with sweet wine and water.

"I see you've redecorated?" Obi-Wan noted with a grin, then winced. Maybe it wasn't a good idea to bring up the fact that he knew just where every piece of furniture was in this room.

Qui-Gon chuckled and Obi-Wan was relieved that there was no tension due to his past liaison with Lilith. "Lilith's chairs were a bit……small."

Obi-Wan shook his head. "Everything is small where you are concerned."

"A curse, I suppose." Qui-Gon sipped the wine.

"You've not heard Lilith complain, have you?"

Qui-Gon nodded with a wide smile. "Not at all."

Obi-Wan leaned back and took a long, steady look at his former Master, noting the lines of fatigue and exhaustion had all but disappeared.

"She's good for you."

Qui-Gon gazed thoughtfully at his former apprentice. "Yes. She is."

Qui-Gon cleared his throat and leaned forward, resting his hands on his knees. "But you've not come here to talk about me. What's happening back home?"

Obi-Wan rolled his eyes and for the first time Qui-Gon noticed the lines under the young man's eyes. "What is it Obi-Wan?"

"Everything."

Qui-Gon took a deep breath. "What can I do to help?"

"Let me live here for the rest of my life."

Qui-Gon laughed and clasped Obi-Wan's shoulder. "Talk to me. We used to talk, remember?"

"We did?" Obi-Wan's eyebrow raised and his eyes narrowed.

Qui-Gon slapped at the younger man's shoulder and leaned back, fingers tugging at his furred chin. "Touche."

When Obi-Wan didn't begin on his own, Qui-Gon decided to pry on his own. "Anakin? The Council? Me, Shara?"

At the younger man's pained look Qui-Gon nodded. "What have you done to her this time?"

Obi-Wan's eyes widened and he gaped in shock.

Before he could answer, Qui-Gon laughed. "Learn now, Obi-Wan. Whatever happens, they will blame you.

Whether you were in the wrong or not."

"Thanks, just what I wanted to hear."

"Tell me."

Obi-Wan took a deep breath. "Well, training Anakin and keeping after him constitutes a full time job. Keeping up with my exercises, my meetings with the Council, the missions. I don't have enough time for her."

"Is this your guilt or her accusations?"

"We’re both frustrated. Not enough time for us."

Qui-Gon nodded and waited for Obi-Wan to continue.

Silence settled over the two men and Qui-Gon slowly sipped at his wine.

"Being a Jedi in love is not easy, Obi-Wan."

Obi-Wan sighed deeply. "No it’s not."

"You can work through it. The Force brings two people together for its own will. Sometimes we don't understand where it is leading, most of the time we don't know if it will work."

Qui-Gon stopped for a moment to allow his words to sink in and then continued.

"Do you think I expected to fall in love with Lilith? Our lives are completely different from one another. Do you think I ever expected to make it work?"

"You moved away from the Temple and your duties to pursue a relationship with her, Master." Obi-Wan stated matter-of-factly, as if nothing else had influenced his decision.

Qui-Gon chuckled thoughtfully. "It was a hard, yet easy decision to make. I've left my friends back on Coruscant. I've left you and Anakin."

Qui-Gon sighed and continued when Obi-Wan was not forthcoming with any more information. "I simply provided the Council with another look at the duties I was willing to perform that would have been at a great personal expense to someone other than myself. I have a reason to be so far away from Coruscant. More than one."

Obi-Wan nodded in understanding but Qui-Gon continued.

"I can do things here that allow me anonymity whereas being sent on a mission for the Council as a Knight would draw unwanted attention."

Obi-Wan nodded. "With what you are doing for the Council, anonymity is essential."

Qui-Gon nodded, "I will be happy to train Anakin for a few months while you request a leave of the Council. Come here. You are more than welcome. Stay at the temple with Shara, work things out with her. Request a mission with her. There are many options. Open yourself up to the Force and you will see them."

"Now I know why I love you so much," Obi-Wan chuckled, his eyes locking with the clear blue of his former Master's.

Qui-Gon’s mouth quirked into a grin and he leaned back, "Why is that?"

"You see so much clearer than I."

"Age and experience Obi-Wan."

------------------------------

 The hum of lightsabers drew a small crowd to the large balcony outside Lilith’s private chambers. The two Knights were engaged in a mock battle, taunting one another, baiting, waiting for one another to make a mistake.

The setting suns cast an eerie glow and the shadows danced along the walls with each movement.

Anakin narrated the moves he could recognize for the growing crowd, explaining why one of the men parried one way and why another would attack in that direction.

The parries and attacks were so quick, those not familiar with the moves had a hard time following, but it was the simple grace and execution of the movements that caught everyone’s attention.

When the two men finally broke apart and honored one another with elegant bow’s, the crowed applauded. The two men shot each other a knowing look and swept their arms in a large arc and bowed to the crowd, much to their amusement.

"Very beautiful." Shmi smiled warmly, resting her hands on Anakin’s shoulders.

"Yeah, they are great together. It just looks right when they practice." Anakin beamed.

"I don’t think I’ve ever seen such trust." Kala glared in awe.

"Trust is the most important thing when practicing with these weapons," Qui-Gon set the lightsaber on a nearby table and took up a small towel to wipe his face. "They will just as easily take off a limb as take down an adversary."

"Indeed it was beautiful," Rez smiled widely and Obi-Wan stopped cold.

Qui-Gon shot his former apprentice a questioning look and Obi-Wan exhaled a deep breath.

"I don’t believe we’ve been properly introduced," Obi-Wan stepped toward Rez and extended his hand.

"Rez Chun’thor, "Qui-Gon began, eyes darting between the two men. "Obi-Wan Kenobi."

Rez took Obi-Wan’s hand and pumped hard, only caressing the younger man’s wrist lightly when they parted.

"Going by your real name tonight I see." Rez smiled warmly, his eyes quickly travelling the length of the younger man’s body.

"I’m here as a guest this time."

At Qui-Gon’s questioning look, Obi-Wan turned to his former Master. "When I met this man, he demanded to know my name. I gave him one."

"One that was not your own. A fact of which I was very much aware."

"What name did you give him?" Anakin’s innocent smile looked up from the vicinity of the men’s waist.

Qui-Gon crossed his arms and shifted his weight. "Indeed?"

Obi-Wan’s mouth quirked up into a lopsided grin as he muttered. "Jinn."

Qui-Gon nodded and smiled, "Why does that not surprise me."

Obi-Wan laughed. "Well I wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction of honestly answering every question he put to me."

"I would have been disappointed otherwise." Rez said softly, eyeing Obi-Wan with a strange gleam that made the younger man uncomfortable.

Silence settled for a moment until Qui-Gon broke it.

"So?" Qui-Gon's deep voice rang along the walls of the balcony, startling everyone," To what do we owe this audience?"

"I wanted to show mom what a perfect lightsaber practice looked like." Anakin smiled sheepishly.

"You'll be perfecting those moves soon enough, Anakin." Qui-Gon rested a large hand atop the fair-haired head.

"The evening meal is served," Kala answered. "Would you like to take it out here or dine inside?"

"Wherever you have set it, Kala, will be fine." Qui-Gon smiled politely at the blue-skinned woman as she nodded and let the way off the balcony.

 -----------------------

 "The man makes me uncomfortable," Obi-Wan admitted as they walked down the long corridor.

"It's taken some time to get used to him, I must admit." Qui-Gon smiled at the younger man's discomfort. "He's harmless, I assure you."

That stopped Obi-Wan cold and he whirled on his former Master. "He wasn't harmless when he was trying to seduce me."

Again, Obi-Wan winced. Bringing this up would get them nowhere, and would lead to other events that Obi-Wan would rather not explain.

"It's his way. It is what he is paid to do."

Obi-Wan eyed his master warily. "What do you see when you look at him?"

Qui-Gon coughed. "Myself."

Obi-Wan smiled slightly, stifling a laugh. "other than the physical similarities."

"Obi-Wan, he is fiercely loyal to Lilith. While I am still uncomfortable at times, he is a great asset to Lilith."

"He tried to seduce you too, right?"

Qui-Gon smiled slightly uncomfortable memories resurfacing. " I think he's tried to seduce every man and woman in the place. He's grilled me, questioned me and done his best to be certain that I am not here to hurt Lilith."

Obi-Wan nodded with a smile. "First impressions, y'know?"

"All too well, Obi-Wan." Qui-Gon chuckled. "All too well."

Obi-Wan's link chimed and he reached to his belt to answer it.

Qui-Gon turned to examine a piece of art that hung from the wall but could not help but overhear part of Obi-Wan's conversation.

"Do you know when you'll be back?" Shara asked. "I'm back for a day and was disappointed when you weren't here."

"I left you a message. I couldn't reach you by the time you'd left."

Her sigh was audible and Qui-Gon smiled slightly. He knew all too well the demands on a Jedi relationship. He turned and motioned for Obi-Wan's attention.

Sad blue eyes gazed up at their former Master and Qui-Gon clasped his hand on the younger man's shoulder.

Obi-Wan thumbed the mute switch and cocked his head.

"Take it in the office, if you like. That way you can see her."

Obi-Wan nodded and asked Shara to hold for a moment while he made it to Lilith's office.

"I'll be with Anakin if you want to talk."

With a final nod, Qui-Gon palmed the door shut.

 ------------------------------

 "Self defense is the first rule of the lightsaber, Anakin." Qui-Gon smiled at the boy. "Never be the first to attack. If it must come to a fight, allow your enemy to come to you."

Anakin stared at Qui-Gon, his bright blue eyes concentrating on his Master's every word.

"This allows a great many advantages. You can see your attacker and his moves easier if your mind is not filled with thoughts of how you will not only attack, but block his response as well."

"Right. I understand." The boy was all but bouncing to be able to show Qui-Gon what he'd learned since Qui-Gon had been gone.

Qui-Gon smiled warmly. The boy's impatience was palpable and he knew he should shoot it down now, not allow it to grow. He couldn't bring himself to do it however and nodded, giving the boy permission to engage his lightsaber.

The blade hummed to life as Qui-Gon adjusted the settings on his own deadly blade.

"Now I want you to step back and block every one of my attacks. Do not attack me in return, simply concentrate on blocking."

Anakin nodded, his eyes darting over his Master's body, slim muscles tensed.

"Relax. You are less accurate when your muscles are coiled like a serpent, less precise. That makes your movements choppy. And with this blade, there is no room for a mistake. One missed block and you will loose an arm, or worse."

"I'm excited, Master. I've never been able to practice with you before." Anakin admitted with a smile.

"I've told Obi-Wan that I will be happy to teach you while you are here, give him a bit of a break."

Anakin nodded happily, his blade bouncing with his excitement.

Now was as good a time as any to reinforce his point and Qui-Gon lifted his blade quickly and knocked Anakin's right out of his hand.

The boy stood rooted in place, his mouth gaping open in shock.

"A loose grip will enable your opponent to disarm you. A tight grip, will make your movements calculated, stiff."

Qui-Gon retrieved Anakin's blade and handed it back to him.

"You must find the balance between the two."

 Anakin nodded slowly and waited until permission was given to ignite his lightsaber once again.

"Now, show me what you have just learned." Qui-Gon raised his blade and began a slow, calculated attack.

Anakin parried the blows easily, seeing the moves before Qui-Gon made them.

"Good. Good." Qui-Gon praised, speeding his attacks a bit, making it more difficult for Anakin to see them.

"Don't tense, Anakin." Qui-Gon noted the furrowed brow and the look of intense concentration.

"If I don't concentrate, you'll hit me." Anakin breathed, his eyes staring at his Master's center of life.

"If you concentrate too hard, your grip will falter and you will follow."

Anakin nodded, seemingly not hearing but concentrating on where the next attack was coming.

He missed the next blow as the tip of his Master's green blade caught his leg. Anakin dropped his saber to grasp at the numbing wound.

"My height is an advantage Anakin, as is yours."

Anakin looked up at his Master, towering over him and frowned.

"Did you see what a stretch I had to make to hit you in the leg? I could have easier hit you in the head."

Anakin nodded, rubbing the wound one last time and standing.

"Whereas you can easily hit me in the legs."

"You'd leap out of the way."

"That is where speed and agility come in, Anakin." Qui-Gon extinguished his blade and clipped it to his belt.

"To be a good swordsman you need all of these skills and they need to work together."

Anakin nodded and disengaged his blade.

"You will face opponents of different sizes and strengths, and you must know how to get around each of their defenses. Each will have a weakness and you will need to learn how to find that weakness and exploit it.

"You don't have one." Anakin smiled.

Qui-Gon chuckled and placed his hand flat against his abdomen. "I must have one or I would not have these scars."

Anakin lowered his eyes and Qui-Gon placed a comforting hand on the boy's shoulder.

"I am past my prime Anakin."

When Anakin began to protest, Qui-Gon silenced him with a raised finger.

"I am good with a blade but not as good as someone decades younger. I can impart my knowledge and hope that you learn it well enough to stay alive."

"You're the best and I am going to make you proud." Anakin smiled, his eyes focused on those of his Master.

Qui-Gon smiled warmly. "You already have, Anakin."

"He can still best me nine times out of ten," Obi-Wan stood in the doorway with a smile.

Anakin waved to his Master and Obi-Wan approached.

"You did well, Anakin. I've no doubt that you'll be a great swordsman one day."

Anakin's eyes beamed and he bowed, as befitting his station, to Qui-Gon.

"Thank you for the lesson, Master."

Qui-Gon checked his amusement at the boy's complete shift in attitude and returned the bow.

"Go find your mother now, Obi-Wan and I have things to discuss."

Anakin's eyes lit again and he rushed out the doors with a, "Yes Master!"

The men watched with amused looks for a moment before Qui-Gon broke the moment.

"So what did she have to say?"

Obi-Wan frowned. "She's off on another mission tomorrow. She doesn't know how long she'll be gone."

The men walked off the balcony down the long hallway.

"You sound disappointed."

"I am. So is she. We've not spent any considerable time together since…" Obi-Wan broke off, unwilling to relive the memories bringing up the incident would cause.

"Since Naboo?"

Qui-Gon did it instead.

"Yes."

"I want you two to come here, stay for a bit. The Council will agree."

Obi-Wan cocked an eyebrow at his Master. "So certain are you?"

Qui-Gon laughed and ruffled the growing reddish locks. "Yes, Master Yoda. I am."

"Giving us time off. Heh. Now that is something I'd like to see."

"I'll speak to them when…"

As they stepped into the office Obi-Wan had just vacated, they were interrupted by a message panel to the side of them illuminating with Qui-Gon's name.

Qui-Gon's eyes narrowed and he smiled widely. Pressing his hand to the panel, an image sprang to life and Obi-Wan grinned.

"I'll be back in a bit."

Qui-Gon nodded, not answering him, as he took a seat and smiled at the image.

"When are you coming home?" Obi-Wan heard Qui-Gon say just before the door slid shut.

"Soon love. This trip was past due."

Qui-Gon leaned forward and slid his fingers down the screen, over her cheek.

Lilith smiled and pursed her lips. She cocked her head and closed her eyes, as if feeling his hand cupping her cheek.

"I've not much time. I wanted to check in to see how things were going."

"Obi-Wan has not killed Rez yet if that's what you mean."

Her hearty laugh lifted his spirits and her eyes sparkled. "How fortunate."

"For us all, I assure you."

"I have confidence that you will be able to restrain your former apprentice." Lilith licked her lips in such a way that made his cock stir.

Qui-Gon shifted uncomfortably and she grinned knowingly. "Take care of it yourself tonight love. I'll be home shortly."

"Not soon enough," Qui-Gon replied, adjusting himself with a grimace.

Her head turned and he realized that she'd been interrupted. She turned back to the screen in time to mouth 'I love you.' Before the screen went black.

Qui-Gon leaned back and sighed. "I love you, Lilith."

Qui-Gon reached for a leather-bound volume and began to search through it, scanning the lines of poetic text. He repeated the selected phrases until they fell confidently from his lips.

Obi-Wan walked in later with a smile and Qui-Gon closed the volume and set it aside.

"Anakin is enjoying his time here. I think it's going to be hard to get him to leave."

"He has a duty to the Order as a Padawan. He won't shirk the responsibility."

"I agree. It's…."

Qui-Gon motioned for Obi-Wan to take a seat. "It's what?"

"Unusual for a Padawan to be spoiled like this."

"That is part of your discomfort in training him?"

"It is."

Qui-Gon sighed. "Anakin is a special case. The Council agrees even if they don't like the fact."

Qui-Gon watched Obi-Wan carefully and then asked. "Has there been problems?"

"Not many to speak of."

"Many?"

Obi-Wan took a deep breath. "He is teased sometimes. He's spoiled. He has a very lenient Master who takes him on missions an older Padawan would not be permitted to attend."

Qui-Gon closed his eyes. This relationship was harder on Obi-Wan than he was letting on. "Why don't you leave Anakin here for a few months. I'll instruct him."

"I'll ask the Council. It wouldn't be too much of a burden?"

"No."

"What about Shmi and…"

"I will set strict ground rules for Anakin's time with her. Lilith will agree with me. It will be a test."

Obi-Wan nodded. "A very good one with his mother living under the same roof."

Qui-Gon smiled mischievously and Obi-Wan shook his head. "You are a devious one."

Obi-Wan stood and yawned. "I'm going to see if I can find any peace and meditate for a while."

Qui-Gon nodded and turned his attention to a clear piece of parchment.

Grasping a stylus, he began sketching a myriad of designs until he came up with one he liked. He tossed the unsatisfactory choices in a nearby bin and stood.

He folded the parchment with a smile and left the office in search of Rez.

 ------------------------

 "You're certain about this?" Rez asked as the door shut behind the two men.

"I am."

Rez smiled, his eyes travelling along the length of Qui-Gon's silk-clothed body. He licked his lips and grinned when Qui-Gon shifted uncomfortably.

"Very well. If you'll get undressed, we'll get started….."

THE END