Author: Lanna C email: dewlannaa@aol.com
Archive: ok
Category: PWP
Disclaimer: All characters except Tsalia Kai, Erryn Brum, and
Arden Nightstar are borrowed and will be returned
unharmed.
Feedback: "You may fire when ready."
Pairing: Q/f
Rating: R
Summary: Qui-Gon/Lia series. Qui-Gon returns from a mission to find a
naked man exiting Lia's bedroom.
Timeline: 2-3 years before TPM

************

Tsalia Kai set the security system for the night and turned off the lights
in the shop.
Her shop. Her's and Erryn's anyway. They had become business partners when
Jocasta Nu had come out of retirement. That was about six months ago. They
had
pooled their savings, bought an older building in the Senate district and
opened
their own gift shop; The Treasure Box. They specialized in exotic items
from across
the galaxy. She strolled through the door in the back of the shop and into
the small
storeroom. Turning these lights off she stepped into a small turbo lift.
The doors opened
and Lia stepped out into her third floor apartment. It took up the entire
third floor, but that
wasn't saying much as the building itself was small. Worn out, she kicked
off her
shoes as she headed for the bedroom. Showering quickly she climbed into
bed. She
lay in the dark room exhausted yet unable to sleep. The grand opening of
the shop
had been a big success, marred by only one thing; Qui-Gon had not been
there.
That couldn't be helped though, he and Obi-Wan were off planet on a
mission for
the Jedi Council. It had been more than four months since she'd seen
Qui-Gon.
Four months, thirteen days and almost nine hours. She and Erryn had
purchased
the building only days before he'd left. Master Yoda had insisted she keep
her
quarters in the Jedi Temple when she'd resigned from the library and
museum.
She knew he felt bad about Jocasta Nu's sudden return because he had hired
her to replace the retiring archivist. Lia was now grateful the woman had
returned.
With Qui-Gon gone so often she needed the distraction of a new project.
Most
nights she slept here instead of her quarters in the temple. It was too
lonely there
without Qui-Gon.

A chime sounded indicating a visitor outside the private entrance at the
back of the
building. Qui-Gon! Lia thought, jumping out of bed and throwing a robe on.
It couldn't
be him though, she realized, he knew the key code and wouldn't have to
ring the
chime. Activating a view screen imbedded in the bedroom wall, Lia touched
the icon
representing the back entrance. An image filled the screen. She recognized
the
shoulder length dark hair and green eyes instantly, it was Arden
Nightstar. Arden
was their major supplier and an old lover. Lia had contacted him as soon
as she
and Erryn had decided to open their own business. He came to Coruscant
once a
month with merchandise from around the galaxy.

"Arden what are you doing here?" She asked.

"Can't a friend stop by for a visit?" He grinned. "I need a favor, can I
come up?"

Lia touched a button on the screen opening the door. In moments he had
climbed
the back stairs and was standing in Lia's apartment. "You're early this
month, Arden."
Lia commented, giving the man a quick hug.

"I know. I've got some nice things to show you. I'll bring them to the
shop in the morning."

"That's fine. You said you needed something?" Lia prompted.

"Yeah, I need a place to sleep for a few days while I'm having some work
done on my
ship. Any chance I could stay here with you?"

"I suppose." Lia answered with a yawn. "Take the couch tonight and
tomorrow I'll go
back to the Temple, then you can use this place as long as you need it."

"The couch, huh," Arden began, "I was hoping maybe we could..."

"Watch it Arden or you'll find yourself on the street!" Lia cried.

"You sure have changed. It wasn't that long ago you wouldn't think twice
about a
quick romp on the side." He said as he stretched out on the sofa.

"I was never in love before." Lia tossed a blanket at him.

"He's never around. I don't know why you waste your time with him." He was
teasing now, trying to provoke her.

"Go to sleep!" Lia said, disappearing behind her bedroom door.

*********

Qui-Gon punched in the key code and the door slid silently open, closing
after
he stepped through it. He climbed the back stairs to Lia's apartment over
the shop. He had already been to the Temple quarters they shared and found
it
empty. He knew she had been staying here most of the time he had been
gone.
It had been so long since he had held her in his arms, he took the stairs
two
at a time. He entered to find the apartment well lit for the late hour.
Voices
came from the bedroom and a naked man appeared.

"Hold on Woman, I need some food." It was Arden Nightstar. His voice
dropped
to a whisper when he saw Qui-Gon. Qui-Gon stood frozen with shock. Arden
looked back at the bedroom. "Hey," he began, but that's all he got out for
at that
moment Qui-Gon took one long stride forward and struck him hard in the
face with
his fist. He crumpled to the floor. Qui-Gon walked calmly out of the
apartment and
back down the stairs.

*************

Lia sat leaning against the wide tree trunk. She smiled. She could almost
feel
Qui-Gon's presence here. Lia came to this secluded hollow more and more
lately.
This was their secret hideaway, located inside the temple gardens, near
the back
of the forested area. She and Qui-Gon had spent countless hours here,
talking,
picnicking, making love, or just sitting quietly and listening to the
sounds around
them. It was so peaceful, so relaxing here.

**************

Qui-Gon stepped into the turbo lift that would take him to the anteroom of
the
Jedi council chamber. He was thankful that it was empty. He was not in the
mood
for company. After leaving Lia's apartment the night before, the Jedi
Master had
started walking. He walked all night trying to let go of his anger and to
come to
some understanding of why Lia had betrayed him. He sighed as the turbo
lift
continued to speed upward. He knew she hated his long absences, he hated
them too. In the past, their love and commitment to each other had been
enough
to see them through their times apart. It had never even occurred to him
that she might
stray in his absence. When he saw Nightstar coming naked from Lia's
bedroom a
part of him died. But, he reminded himself for the thousandth time in the
last twelve
hours, he was a Jedi and as such could not afford to let affairs of the
heart detract
from his focus or his connection to the Force. On a mission either could
prove fatal,
not only to himself but to Obi-Wan as well. He had decided his only choice
was
to end his relationship with Lia at once.

He knew Obi-Wan would be waiting for him when he exited the lift. His
padawan
would know something was wrong. Their connection was too close for Qui-Gon
to try to hide or deny his feelings. He would just have to dodge the young
man's
inquiries until after their briefing with the Council.

*************

Obi-Wan had felt his master's pain well before he emerged from the turbo
lift. It had
frightened him at the time. His fear turned to anger after Qui-Gon
explained what had
happened the night before. He felt disgusted by Lia's actions. Qui-Gon had
asked that
he not involve himself in the situation, but the more Obi-Wan thought
about it the more
he realized he could not sit back and watch his master suffer.

As he entered the shop he did not know what he would say to Lia. He knew
it was wrong,
but he had a strong desire to hurt her the way she had hurt Qui-Gon.

************

Lia watched Erryn smile at the two women he was waiting on. All he had to
do was smile
and they were hooked. It seemed he was a born salesman. He wasn't pushy,
he just
smiled and asked people what they had in mind. The women seemed to flock
to him.
In the three years that she had known him, Lia had never noticed how
handsome he was.
With his bright green eyes and shoulder length wavy blond hair, he was
quite good looking.
She had been blinded by Qui-Gon, she guessed with a quiet chuckle. If only
he were here
now, she sighed.

"We need to talk." Obi-Wan said startling Lia.

"Obi-Wan!" She hadn't seen or heard anyone enter. He took her by the arm,
leading her
through the back of the shop into the storeroom. "Where's Qui-Gon? When
did you get back?"
When they were in the privacy of the storeroom he released her. "A little
rough there." She
commented rubbing her arm.

"Why did you do it Lia?" His voice was harsh.

Puzzled, Lia answered, "Do what?"

"Don't even try it! You know what I'm talking about! How could you do it?
I thought you loved
him!" He could barely contain his anger.

"What's the matter with you?" Lia took a step back, she had never seen him
like this. He was
furious with her. "Where is Qui-Gon?"

"What do you care! You've done enough damage! Tell me, how long did you
wait before you
spread your legs for Nightstar? A day, a week?"

Lia slapped him across the face with all the strength she could muster.
"How dare you talk
to me like that!" She yelled. "You've known me your whole life! How can
you say such things!
Qui-Gon is....." Her voice broke and tears ran down her face. "I would
never..." Her voice failed
her again and she began to sob.

"What's going on back here?" Erryn had entered the storeroom to find Lia
in tears and Obi-Wan
with a red handprint on the side of his face.

"This doesn't concern you, Brum." Obi-Wan spat.

"It does now!" He replied going to Lia. "Are you all right?"

"Have you been fucking him too, Lia?"

"Quiet!" Shouted Erryn. "What is going on here?"

"Qui-Gon found out about her affair with Nightstar." Obi-Wan growled.

"She's not having an affair with Arden Nightstar!" Brum laughed. "He's
been seeing the wife
of the Ellyrian senator."

"I tried to tell him." Lia sniffed.

"Qui-Gon caught him coming naked out of Lia's bedroom." Obi-Wan retorted.

"I let him stay at my apartment while he was having some work done on his
ship. I've been
staying at the temple!"

"Oh my, if that's true then..." Obi-Wan began.

"I've got to find Qui-Gon!" Lia cried.

**********

Lia didn't know what she would say to Qui-Gon when she saw him. She was
both angry
and scared. Angry because he didn't trust her or their love enough to know
she would never
betray him, and scared because she knew once his mind was made up about
something he
almost never changed it.

She found him in her quarters at the temple. He was sitting on a chair at
the small round
table in the living area. The sadness in his eyes almost made her forget
her anger. She
longed to take him in her arms and comfort him.

Qui-Gon watched Lia enter the room in silence. She looked beautiful. Her
long brown hair
was down and fell in waves along her shoulders and down her back. She wore
a simple
white dress that hugged her body perfectly. He could see she had been
crying. Angry
and hurt as he felt, he still loved her and wanted her. Why couldn't he
hate her? This would
be so much easier. He wasn't ready for the conversation he knew he must
have with her. It
would have to wait, he needed to leave. He stood and turned to go but Lia
stood in his
path, her hand resting on his chest.

"Don't go!" She pleaded. "Not until I've had a chance to talk to you."

"I can't do this now, Lia." He removed her hand and started to step past
her, but she blocked
his way again.

"It has to be now!" Her eyes began to fill with tears. If he left now, she
knew he would never
return. "I can't let you go like this! I won't! I was not with Arden last
night or any other night!
I was here in the gardens, alone. I love you Qui-Gon Jinn! Only you! I
have never been with
anyone but you since the first time we made love! I have never even
thought about it and you
should know that!"

Qui-Gon listened as Lia pleaded with him. He could hear the desperation in
her voice. She
knew he could find out if she had been in the gardens or anywhere inside
the temple. There
were sensors that kept track of the location of every temple resident and
guest. She couldn't
hope to get away with a lie like that. Unless it wasn't a lie. Using the
Force, he began searching
through the whirlpool of emotions that swirled within her. They were no
different than the ones
that were battling inside himself. What had he done! There was no guilt or
deceit there! Just
the Lia he had loved since the first day they met. He felt her love for
him as well as a great
sense of defeat.

"You can go now if you want to." She said through tears as she stepped
back out of his way.
Qui-Gon reached for her to take her in his arms but she backed away. Still
sobbing she
continued, "Please don't. I don't want you to hold me and say you're sorry
it has to be this
way. That would hurt too much. If you're going to leave me then just do
it."

Qui-Gon approached her again, this time successfully embracing her. She
didn't struggle,
but he could feel her apprehension. He held her tighter, kissing the top
of her head. "I'm
sorry, Lia." He swallowed hard, trying to remove the lump in his throat.
"I wasn't thinking.
I reacted to what I saw and everything else shut down." He stroked her
hair as he spoke
and gradually he felt her body relax against his. "Will you forgive me?"

Lia looked up at the only man she had ever loved and asked, "Will you be
able to go off
on a mission certain of my fidelity and love?"

He searched deep within himself before answering. "I love you Lia. I will
never doubt you
again." He said gently wiping away her tears with his fingers.

"I love you too, Qui-Gon, and I will never give you a reason to." She said
with a sad smile.
Her eyes began to well up again as she snaked her arms around his waist
then buried her
face in his chest. She never wanted to come this close to losing him
again.

Qui-Gon blinked back tears of his own as they stood holding on to each
other. For a long
time neither of them moved or spoke. Then hand in hand they went into the
bedroom.

Qui-Gon sat on the edge of the bed with Lia standing before him, between
his long legs.
His hands rested on her waist, hers were on his shoulders. "I've missed
you so much!"
His voice was hoarse as he pulled her close.

"You were gone too long this time." She replied kissing his brow. She then
moved on to
his temples, his eyes, his cheeks, then to his lips. They were soft and
sensuous. He returned
her kiss with a passion that made her light-headed. Large hands caressed
her body, following
every curve. Lia stripped him of his tunics, then stole from his lips to
kiss his strong shoulders
and sculpted chest. He moaned loudly as she pressed a hand against his
straining erection.
She unfastened his pants, freeing the now saluting organ.

Her hand felt cool on his penis. Sweat beads on his forehead began to run
down the side of
his face as he struggled to keep from coming. She was on her knees in
front of him now,
pulling off his boots, then with his help she removed his pants as well.
She remained on her
knees, her hands slowly gliding along his thighs, spreading them apart.
His breathing was
ragged and heavy as she tenderly kissed her way up the inside of his
thighs. Her breath
stirred his pubic hairs as she neared his waiting organ. Pre-ejaculated
oozed forth, cascading
down the length of his penis. He held her hair back so he could see her
lips ring the head.
He cried out on impact, his body shuddering as Lia took him in her mouth.
Down she went,
taking in as much of him as she could before rising and starting again.

Lia's body ached with desire as she feasted on him. She sucked hard
sensing his impending
orgasm. Knowing he could not hold back any longer, she picked up speed,
urging him toward
his release. With a roar he came, his seed bursting down her throat.

Taking her hands in his, Qui-Gon pulled Lia to her feet. He held her tight
around the waist, his
head resting on her chest for a moment as she stood in front of him. Then
together they
removed her dress and panties. Qui-Gon lifted her effortlessly onto the
bed, placing her on
her back. Laying along side her he placed a leg between hers and began to
nuzzle at her neck.
She moaned softly, squeezing his leg between hers and pressing her mound
against his thigh.
Qui-Gon's hand roamed her body as his lips found hers once more. He pulled
gently on the hard
nipples and rolled them between his thumb and index finger. Lia's back
arched, her moans and
whimpers lost in their kiss. Qui-Gon moved on top of her, settling between
her spread thighs. Lia's
body quivered with want as he thrust inside her wet opening. Clinging
tightly to each other their
bodies moved in sync, the delicious friction bringing them both to the
edge. With a tilt of his pelvis,
Qui-Gon sent Lia spiraling. She cried out, her body stiffening, her nails
digging into his back as she
came. Qui-Gon's climax followed soon after. The heat from his ejaculate
warming Lia's body from
the inside out. He collapsed on top of her and Lia thought nothing ever
felt as comforting as the
sated weight of the man she loved on her.

***********

"Won't Erryn be upset with you for taking the day off?" He asked lazily
tracing a circle around
her nipple with the tip of his finger.

"Obi-Wan is taking my place today." She answered.

"Obi-Wan?" He raised his head from her chest. "What was he doing there?"

"He's the one who told me you thought I was having an affair with Arden."
She pressed his head
back down. "You need to have a talk with your padawan about his foul
mouth, by the way."

"I thought Arden told you."

"No, I haven't seen him for a couple of days."

"Then you don't know about..."

"What?" Lia asked curiously.

"Remember how I told you I reacted to what I saw?'

"Yes."

"Well when I saw Arden coming naked from your bedroom I punched him in the
nose."

"What!?" Lia exclaimed laughing. "Oh well, it was only a matter of time
anyway. Still,
I can't believe you did that. I mean.... ohhhh Qui-Gon!" She said as he
took her nipple
between his lips.

END

LC