(The beginning of this post can be found in the maket place thread, as the forum for once was being a total jellyfish)

And there they were, seated at a table at one of the more fashionable (and as Resei would later add, expensive) Restaurants. The food, which prooved delicious had been served just minutes ago.
Finally Resei decided to end the smalltalk about how great the food was and so on, by saying:
"Mia. This has been by far the best day of my quite miserable life. Finally life is making sense again. Thank you. I know that the past has not been easy on you, either. And if there is anything- anything- I can do to make you happy, to somehow make up just a little bit for all the bad and unjust that's happened to you..."

"Just...tell me it wasn't you who...well...just tell me you were never assigned to hunt the Fitzwalters," she replied after a long while, playing with her food now that her appetite had vanished.

Lack of sleep was finally catching up with her, and had turned her good mood slightly sour, but she was determined not to let that spoil their evening.

Revan smiled sadly. He understood her. He took her hands in his, and looked straight into her eyes.
"I swear on the still fresh grave of my mother I was never assigned to hunt down and or kill the Fitzwalters," he said in his most grave serious voice.
She seemed satisfied, and they ate for a while in silence.
"It's getting late... And you need some sleep, dear." He smiled.
"It's been a wonderful evening, but I think maybe we should retire now?"

"We?" she asked, eyebrows raised, lips curled into an amused smile. "Getting ahead of ourselves a little, aren't we, mister?" Then she chuckled.

"You do like to call me dear, don't you. Makes me feel old...very old...or worse...married." She pulled a face at this word, as if it left a bitter taste in her mouth. But much as she tried to keep a straight face, she failed spectacularly, and ended up laughing at her own stupidity.

Resei laughed with her, but not at hers, but his stupidity.
"He, well, sorry. Didn't mean it like retiring together. Didn't think about it, really." He laughed some more, thinking, 'well, maybe I thought about it just a little..
"Sorry about calling you 'dear', as well... As I said, it's a horribly bad habbit of mine. I'll stop it. Can't 'ave you going around feelin' old, can we?" He grinned. "After all, that'd be just like calling a wookie a midget." He winked at her, and they laughed together a little.
"May I escort you for a while?"
Resei payed the bill, with a moderate curse on his lips, and the left.

They walked together, small talking, until the crossroad where they had to part.
"It's been a wonderful evening," Resei started. "I wish it didn't have to end... But of course it's got to. Actually, I was wondering... May I... I mean, could I like, eh.. Would it be ok with you of.. Oh, heck..."
He couldn't say it. His highest wish on earth in this moment, his maybe highest wish since the day before- and he couldn't find the courage to ask!
"Please," he pleaded in a thin, awkward voice.
Please, understand what I wish for. Please don't make me torture myself anymore.. Please let me kiss you.

Smiling at his sudden onset of what appeared to be nerves, she took his hand again and gazed at him for a moment. Then she reached up a hand to trace his facial markings.

A band across his nose...a strip across each eye and a centre vertical band joining them all together...each marking a slight variation of a very pale blue colour.

Slowly...very slowly, as she traced the marking above his left eye, her hand cupped his cheek and she edged a little closer...tentative...hesitant...almost as if she were afraid.

But then, conquering her fear, she lent closer.

Just as their lips were about to touch, however, a wolf whistle came from somewhere and - the moment lost - she pulled away sharply and looked at the ground, blushing with embarrassment as a group of people walked past, all laughing and pointing and joking.

Well that went well, she thought to herself sarcastically.

Resei breathed heavily. So close! he half turned to look at the group walking by, wishing he'd stayed in the sith academy long enough to learn the force lightning ability...
Then he turned to the more important matters at hand.
Mia stood there, her cheeks the colour of a rose.
He felt himself blush as well, but willed himself to look at her.
Then he grinned.
"That," he whispered, while placing his hand beneath her chin and gently raising her head, "was the best almost-kiss I've ever had."
His hand travelled gently past her cheek, to caress her hair.
Then his nerves killed him. He started trembling. He had little time.
He looked into her eyes, and could read his very own expressions in them.
His voice trembled as he said, "You know where to find me."
Unable to do what he had so long wanted to, his hand slid away. He smiled at her, a smile flawed with nervousity.
Then he turned, and started walking slowly away. The moment was gone. And he felt it all had to be perfect before he could finally kiss her. And yet... He nearly regretted it. He did regret it.

Kicking a cloud of dust out in front of her in frustration, she watched Resei walking away and cursed silently.

But the moment had been just that...a moment...and now it was gone. There was nothing she could do but turn and walk away.

So she did.

And then she stopped, and looked back, taking a deep breath.

No! she told herself firmly. You've only just met him. You don't know him...he's a bounty hunter...WAS a Bounty Hunter...he was also a Jedi...and they aren't allowed to love! Taves showed you that!

"Damn...Taves..." she muttered, silently kicking herself. She'd forgotten about him.

Looking at the next set of crossroads in front of her, she was torn between directions. Did she go back to the Palace? Or did she go home and see if Taves had returned?

Glancing once more at the vanishing form of Resei, she felt torn.

Whatever path she took, she was going to hurt one of them...but what to do?

Resei quickly sidestepped and took cover behind a corner, as to get out of her sight.
"Damn! Damn, damn, damn! I screwed up! screwed up!" he shouted. He pulled out his holdoutblaster- he was never without that or his lightsaber- and considered shooting himself.
He put it to his temple, finger on the trigger. His hand shook. He shook.
"What's the matter? You who've killed so many, can't you kill one more? Pussy!" His voice was a hoarse whisper.
But he knew it was no good. No point in shooting yourself for every little mistake. He could try again. He could see she liked him. Anyway, he'd told her where he stayed. She would want to see him again. Or so he hoped. He moved the blaster towards the hoylster again.
It fell out of his trembling, nervous hand, landing harmlessly on the ground.
It went off, however, and Resei threw himself out of the way of the stray shot.
There was a loud bang as it hit the wall.
Oh fudge...

The sound travelled all the way back to Amelia, who turned round in alarm.

Fearing that something had happened to someone, she turned and started back the way she'd come, her mixture of curiosity and concern winning over her eagerness to return home. Eventually, fearing that someone could be hurt, she broke into a run and sprinted back down towards Resei, who she had no idea was round the corner. Gunshots were a very rare occurrence in Naboo these days, and didn't usually happen without some sort of drama or crisis beforehand.

The fact that she'd heard no screaming, and seen no-one else running to help should have told her that there was nothing to worry about...but her compassionate heart won over her logical mind and she kept running.

"What happened?" she gasped, skidding to a halt in front of some old man, who looked rather alarmed by the situation, although he could just have been surprised by her sudden arrival. "Sir? What happened?"

The old man said nothing, but pointed to Resei. Amelia stared at him for a moment, then nodded in thanks to the old man and walked over.

"Resei? What is it? What happened? I heard a shot and...well...thought someone was in trouble. You alright?"

She was panting from the mad dash, bent double to try and catch her breath, but she never broke eye contact with him for a second...even when some strands of hair fell into her face.

"Res?"

Resei, laying on the ground, breathing heavily, was quite in shock.
"Oh, F***," he finally said, "that shouldn't have happened... Eeeh... Hi, Mia."
To alls surprise, possibly including his own, the old man was the first to speak thereafter.
"Well, miss, you know this man? Take good care of him, my word. He just tried to kill himself!"
Resei looked at the man, then at Mia.
"Eeeh... I didn't... Just a little... Kinda.. It just went off! I wasn't gonna shoot myself.. Kinda.."
He looked outright ashamed where he sat, his blaster somehow having, by instinct, found its way back to the hoylster.

"Tell me you weren't," she scowled, holding out a hand to help him up. "Resei...what the hell were you thinking?!"

As soon as he was back on his feet, she confiscated his blaster and tucked it into her own belt, then turned to the man.

"Thank you Sir...I can take it from here."

"Right you are Miss. He a friend of yours?"

"Yeah, you could say that," she grinned, gazing back into Resei's eyes. Then she turned her attention completely to him as the old man walked away.

"You (she pointed an accusing finger in his direction) just can't be left alone, can you? Come on, you soppy thing. I think you need a drink...I sure as hell do. You realise you made me run a quarter mile to get back to you?!"

This was true, though it wasn't really as big a deal as she claimed, because of the extensive training she'd had as a handmaiden. The running had been easy...it was the stopping that had almost killed her, namely because she'd had to skid to a halt to avoid the old man, and was now pretty sure she'd pulled a muscle in her calf...maybe even a slightly sprained ankle.

Yep, there was a definite flaring pain up her leg when she walked (she was noticing it more now that the adrenaline had passed)...and she was pretty sure she was limping a little too...

Bugger!

Resei walked sheepishly after her, trying to explain things.
He was so busy that he didn't even notice her not very slight limp.
"Oh, Mia, it wasn't like that at all! I just screwed up so badly.. Everything was so perfect but... I just needed a little pep-talk with myself. And in my world, that's best done with guns. Oh, heck, who am I fooling... I was considering pulling the trigger. But I decided against it. Know why? Because, Mia.." He stopped. So did she, and she looked into his eyes.
"Because of you, Mia."

"Me?" she asked, slightly taken back by this answer. Wincing a little as she put pressure on her injured leg, she sighed and looked about. This time there was nobody about, because her legs had subconsciously walked...well limped her into an alley just off the main plaza. Not far enough into the back alleys to pose them any threat, but just far enough from the main street to be alone.

"How very noble of you. You're not getting your gun back though."

"But..." he started.

She interrupted by placing a finger over his lips to stop him.

"If you want it, you'll have to come and get it," she dared with a cheeky grin.

"Oh, well. Fudge the gun. There's something else I've been wanting..."
And so, with no one in sight, he embraced her, pulling her closer.
She blushed, as did he. He smiled, trying to conceale his nerves. Their faces got closer and closer.
Soon he could feel her quick breath against his face. His hand slid down, but wisely stopped at her waist. The other one buried itself in her hair. And finally, somehow clumsily, their lips would touch.
It seemed like forever, those maybe three seconds of pure joy.
Resei closed his eyes, merely feeling her, her body against his, both radiating warmth like two stray comets.
And then it was all over. They pulled a little apart, and Resei noticed her limp.
"Now that was wort not killing oneself for.." He grinned, a cheeky grin.
"Shall I carry you to the nearest bar? That limp didn't look very good..." He realised he tried to talk about other things than those three best seconds of his life. Then decided to mention it once more.
"Mia... Did that feel good to you, too?" He grinned again.

Her reply was simple.

She took his collar and pulled him down towards her.

This time, the kiss was much longer and she instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck, her fingers brushing the soft hair at the back of his head.

When she finally pulled away from him - both of them breathless - she asked “Does that answer your question?”

Resei grinned (once he'd regained some breath).
"I think it does. *breathe* Do this mean *breathe* I get my blaster back?" The laughed, or at least tried to, though short of breath as they were it sounded quite strange.
"More important, perhaps- which bar shall I carry you to?"
He grinned, although genuinely worried about her leg.

"Oh, don't worry about my leg...it's fine..." She tried to take a step, but by this time it had stiffened and when she tried to move, it seized up completely, causing her to fall forwards into Resei's arms.

"Oh...ah...hello," she grinned, trying to make it look like that had been her intention all along, even though it blatantly hadn't.

"Erm...yeah, blaster...like I said before. You want it? Come and get it. And as for bars...the, ah, closest one to here is near the bank at the opposite end of the plaza...only that's miles from my house, so it would take me forever to get home, because I'm not staying at the Palace tonight. I've gotta collect a few bits from home and -"

As she was talking, she pushed herself up and forced some weight onto her injured leg, cringing as the pain flared up her leg and right into her lower back.

"And...owww, yeah, I don't think going to a bar would be much good tonight...I can barely walk as it is, so god knows what I'll be like once I've had a few drinks."

Catching his cheeky expression, she added, "No that is not incentive for you to go and get me drunk, so don't even think about it!"

Resei grinned.
"Well, ok, then. No drinks. Could I at least walk- or carry- you home? Don't want you to be assaulted with no ch.. Less chance than normally," he corrected, realising she'd be feisty anyway, "to protect yourself!" He winked, before dragging her back into his embrace. He then with nearly no effort lifted her up, to hold her in his arms.
"You just point, and I'll take you away.." He grinned down at her.

"People are going to look at us, you know," she giggled as she wrapped her arms round his neck and laid her head on his shoulders.

"Just, erm...go that way," she grinned, pointing out of the alley and to the left.

Resei carried her all the way to her home, Merely grinning all the people watching them with funny expressions.
At one point a guard had even approached them and wondered if all was well. Resei had laughed so he nearly dropped Mia, and replied "Never been more well, sir!"
He was actually still laughing when they stopped outside her door.
He let her down, and fell quiet.
"Well.. This is it for tonight, I suppose. You can walk the rest of yourself, can't you?" He grinned, although a bit worried she might not be. Oh, well, she'd rested for quite a while in his arms.

"I'm sure I can manage," she grinned, testing her leg gingerly, then limping a few paces then, nodding in satisfaction and stopping again, turning to him.

"Do you...ah...want to come in? For a drink or something? Seeing as we never made it to any bars?"

Resei grinned. "I suppose I do need a drink now..."
He supported her to the door, and she opened it.
Well inside he was told to take a seat, as she insisted on fixing drinks herself. It pained him to see her limp around finding glasses and drinks. Then finally she sat down.
"Nice place, this. Certainly much more nice than my Tatooinian moisture farm. Well, theres nothing left of that anyway, is there..."

"You want to talk about it?" she asked softly, taking a seat in her favourite seat beside the fire and passing him a glass of blue coloured liquid.

He sighed.
"Not much to tell, really. And I'm a lousy storyteller. But (at this point he drank some more), I can try, can't I. Well. It was a few years after my older brother Conn had gone off to join the Rebel Alliance. Haven't heard from him since, actually... One day, as I was out to get some water from our well, We were attacked by Tusken Raiders, while me and a Twi'lek who happened to be there, trying to steal water, spoke to some sandtroopers. It all happened so fast... The sandtroopers were killed, some grenades devestated the house, and then they were gone, along with all the water in the well... My mother had been incinerated by a grenade... I just hope she didn't feel pain.."
Tears started filling his eyes. Although a long time ago, the memory was still sore.
"But I killed them. Two tribes co-operated. I killed their leaders, and sent them into a civil war. I got my revenge... I killed them..."
His eyes showed hatred. Not as strong as once was, and mixed with sorrow. He would never cease hating Tusken. But he wouldn't hunt them down and kill them anymore. Live and let live...
His eyes finally focused on Amelia.
He would protect her. They'd never get her!

Although slightly frightened by his eyes, she understood his pain. Her story wasn't so different to his.

Moving over beside him, she wrapped an arm round him and laid her head on his shoulder.

"I'm sorry," she whispered.

Then, not knowing what else to say, she just sat there, holding him close. She could tell him about everything she felt...let him see that he was not alone. But then that would really make the evening depressing, and she didn't want to spoil it.

Not now.

Resei smiled he enjoyed having her next to him.
He turned his head slightly and kissed her forehead.
Then he had some more wine. Good stuff, it was.
He felt it was getting warmer.
"Could we go out on the balconey, perhaps? It's a bit hot here..."
She agreed, and he supported her the way out.
They stood there for a while, watching the stars. Then Resei summoned all his courage.
"Amelia?"
"Yes?"
"I... I love you."

There was a stunned silence as she slowly took in what he'd just said.

Wow...this is all a bit sudden, don't you think? she almost blurted out, but managed to keep her thoughts contained. Then she turned to look at him slowly, and could see the water from the lake reflected in his eyes. Or was that his earlier tears?

He's a Jedi...a bounty hunter before that...and you barely know each other...is this such a good idea? Her head was telling her. But then her heart said something completely different.

This might be your only chance at true happiness...take it! You've had so much bad stuff happen...it's time something good happened to you for a change!

"I...ah...I guess you're not so bad yourself," she replied at last, then silently kicked herself for not being able to say those three little words. But the truth was...it was all a bit sudden...and as much as she wanted to...it didn't feel right to say them just yet.

But then he pulled her to him, so quickly she didn't have time to protest. Before she knew what was happening, he was kissing her softly on the lips. Although tense at first because of the shock, Amelia quickly relaxed and kissed him back lovingly, wrapping her arms about his neck. She could feel him slowly guiding her back inside as his hands gently stroked her hair, and once back inside, she had to pull back to gasp for air.

"This is wrong," she gasped as she rested her forehead against his. "This is so wrong...You're a Jedi...aren't there rules for this kind of thing?"

"Well not really," he replied, equally as out of breath. "Because I'm not a Jedi anymore. So even if there were rules...they don't apply."

Amelia thought about this for a moment, and the more she though, the more wrong she knew it was. He had been a Bounty Hunter too, before his days as a Jedi. She should hate him...despise him...like she despised all other Bounty Hunters. But his wandering hands soon found the soft spot at the back of her neck, and the tickling that followed was enough to change her mind.

"Works for me," she giggled kissing him again, and getting revenge at the same time by tickling his sides. Resei squirmed and tried to escape her hands, whilst maintaining the kiss at the same time. This was easier said than done, and the pair soon lost their balance, toppling into a tangled heap on the floor, laughing and tickling and giggling and kissing some more. And then Amelia broke free and bolted away into the depths of the villa, Resei close on her heels.

By the time he caught up, however, she'd had to stop because of her leg. But he didn't seem to notice as he began to tickle her mercilessly once more.

"You git!" she squirmed as they toppled sideways and landed on her bed, still a giggling mass of tangled limbs.

The man in the counter looked bewildered at Resei as he entered.
Then realisation dawned upon him.
"Ah, Mister Mantok! A pleasure to see you again. Had a nice holiday so far? Enjoying Naboo, eh?"
"Oh, indeed. Both the planet and it's citizens are delightful, aren't they? So unlike my home at Coruscant..." He spoke in his Coruscant-accent, a sign that he was being polite. Or possibly that he didn't like the person he was speaking with too much...
"Yes, everybody find something... or someone to fall in love with here," he said, winking.
Resei blushed slightly, and looked down.
"Hehe, chin up, boy. Love is nothing to be ashamed of! Anyway, I'll show her up when she comes, shan't I?"
Resei, not doubting a second that the man knew who Amelia was, merely nodded. Then he grinned.
"I'll go up and wait, won't I."
"You do that, boy. I'll send the maid with some Chandrilan brandy after you."

As Resei finally was in his room, the Chandrilan brandy on a table, he grinned.
He'd never experienced service like this before. For a moment he wondered if it was due to Amelia working in the palace, or if even the queen herself had been involved... But he quickly shook it off, prefering to think it was due to the man's kindness.
Everything was perfect- it was only to wait for Mia to come.

"Good day Miss Amelia," the same man called to her as she walked through the foyer of the same hotel, an hour or so later.

"Hey Mr Biggs," she grinned, diverting from her original course and walking over to his desk, instead.

"You're looking radiant this morning, young lady," he smiled gently as she lent against his desk.

"You're the second person to say that to me today," she grinned, blushing slightly at the compliment.

"Ah, well then it must be true," Mr Biggs chuckled, as he nodded towards the turbo lift. "Your friend is waiting for you."

"Is he now?" Amelia replied, eyebrows raised. "I'd better not keep him waiting then, had I."

"Indeed not, Miss. Have a good day."

"And you, Mr Biggs," she chuckled, heading back for the lift once more.

When she reached Resei's room, she knocked lightly on the door and then went for the handle, but hesitated, unsure if she should just allow herself in, or wait to be invited in.

In the end, however, she decided to wait.

At the first knock Resei launched from the bed like a TIE-Interceptor. He stormed towards the door, stopping briefly to make sure he didn't look like a nightmare in the mirror. Then he opened the door.
He was rather disappointed to see it was one of the maids.
"Oh... Uhm.. Hello, miss?"
"Hello mister Resei. She's on her way now. Here, take these flowers. Good luck, although I doubt you need it, having spent the night at her place..."
Then she scurried off, and Resei was left wondering if she'd even been there at all.

Resei checked his looks again. He ruffled his hair a little, and opened the door.
He smiled as he finally saw Mia again.
"Come one in, Mia."
She did, and he closed the door behind her. He thought he could see a face quickly hiding behind a corner, but couldn't be sure.
"I have some roses for you, Mia..." He produced the boquet from behind his back and gave them to her. She took them, smiling widely, surprized, and sniffed them
"Oh, Resei, they're beautiful! My favourite flowers! How did you know?"
"Eer... I picked the most beautiful ones, because they reminded me of you." What? You couldn't expect him to just say: "Maria the maid gave them to me, and told me they were your favourites!" Seriously! :P
Then she tiptoed slightly and kissed him.
"I've got some Chandrilan brandy... Eeer... You like that?"

"Of course," she grinned, stepping further in to the room and looking about. "Nice place...may I ask what all this is about, though? The flowers and the champaign? Is there some sort of special occasion? Are we celebrating something?"

The question took Resei completely aback.
Although in fact, he'd asked himself the same.
"Eeeer... The great 'being nice to Amelia day'? Heck, I don't know!" I didn't even get this S***, he thought. He said:
"Do I need an occation to be nice to you, Mia? I just appreciate you. I thought I'd show you. But don't expect this every day!"
He grinned, and poured the Chandrilan Brandy in two crystal goblets.
"Cheers!"

"I didn't expect this today," she chuckled, sipping the drink and watching him over the rim of her glass as she did. Then she set it on the side and wrapped her arms about his neck.

"And good save...I almost thought you wouldn't have an answer for me, then. But I'm glad you did."

She kissed him tenderly on the lips once more, wondering if she'd ever tire of doing this once tiny little gesture, day in and day out.

Not likely a voice in her mind said, and she grinned through the kiss.

Resei grinned.
"Well, ok, maybe I don't know why the heck I've got Chandrilan brandy and roses for you. You busted me, hehe. But I do appreciate you, Mia. And never let anyone tell you something else!"
Then he kissed her.
"What did the queen have to say, then?"

"Oh...not a lot. I lost a job..."

Catching his expression, she quickly added, "Not mine! That Captain Dent...the jerk. Apparently he had it coming for a long time...and because of the little incident yesterday...one of us had to go...so I sweet-talked the Queen and..."

She let out a sigh, not really in the mood to lie and make up stories.

"Actually no I didn't. I just apologised for my behaviour and promised the Queen I'd never do it again...the benefits of working at the Palace, eh?...So what have you been up to in my absence...not a lot, by the looks of things."

Rese grinned.
"You got me- again. Well, I've 'bought' the flowers and the Chandrilan brandy, haven't I?"
He grinned again.
"But mostly I've just been missing you, haven't I?"
He kissed her again.
"I was worried, you know, the queen summoning you on your day off... I couldn't even sleep! Eeeer... Not that I tried, that is."
He grinned.
"Sorry, I really tend to overdo it..."

"I think it's quite sweet," Amelia grinned, reaching up to loosen his collar. "And you can never overdo some things..."

With a suggestive smile, she undid his top button, then slipped her hands down his chest to his waist as she pressed another kiss to his lips, preventing him from protesting.

Resei wouldn't have protested anyway.
He led her to the bed, one hand on the back of her trousers, the other one trying to relieve her of her boob tube.
He jumped onto the bed- nearly missing, her still on top of him.
After he'd been stressing with the boob tube a while, she ffinally said.
"Let me help you with that one, sweetheart..."

And here we leave our two brave heroes, for now. But if you're thirsty, there's two nearly untouched goblets of Chandrilan brandy on a table!

Some hours later, Amelia walked back in from the balcony she'd been standing on, admiring the aerial view of the city of Theed. It was late evening now, and the sun was just beginning to set behind the distant mountains, casting everything in a beautiful orange glow.

Glancing back at the bed, she grinned when she saw that this time, it was Resei sleeping peacefully. Deciding not to wake him, she went to the end of the bed, took her jacket and started for the door, pausing to leave a quick note on the pillow beside his head.

Just gone to the bank to deposit my weeks wages. Won't be long. Promise. Mia xx

And then, pulling on her jacket and running a hand through her newly blonde hair, she set off down to the marketplace, and the bank in the distance.