Remembrance

Disclaimer: All belongs to the great and powerful Mouse.

Summary: A Jedi dies, an old wound reopens, and Qui-Gon has an important decision to make.

A/N: I always wanted to participate in a Jinnobi Challenge, but I'm always too late. This time, however, I managed to remember the challenge a whole 5 days before the deadline! Yay me! So, here is my 5-day fic for Jinnobi 2018!

A/N 2: Also, just to be safe I going to include possible trigger warnings vague, non-graphic references to past child abuse/molestation. And /.../ denotes mindspeak and there is shifting POV.

A/N 3: Oh, and this is my first time writing slash so... EEK!

Thanks:

And as always, big thanks to my beta Maeve Pendergast! I couldn't help tweaking a few things, so all mistakes are mine.

Please R&R!

~REMEMBRANCE~

It was well after latemeal when we, tired and nearly dead on our feet, stumbled into our quarters. Qui-Gon entered first, dropping his travel bag absently by the door. Two long strides and he was already at the age-worn, large armchair, his favorite, taking of his boots and wiggling his now free toes with a sigh of satisfaction. I followed him as far as the threshold, taking the time to drop my bag next to his and removing my cloak to hang on one of the pegs by the door.

"I don't know which I want more, a scalding hot shower or to sleep for a week," I said as I headed into the small kitchen area off the main room. Qui-Gon sank deeper into his chair, his head lolling back and his eyes closing.

"Just be sure to choose this time. The last time you attempted both at the same time it led to... memorable results," he commented. As he probably expected, the remark caused me to stick out my head from behind the kitchen's half wall.

"That only happened one time and it was ages ago!"

"In this instance, time has done nothing to dim the remembrance," Qui-Gon chuckled just as I dropped a cold, wet dish towel unceremoniously on his head. He pulled the small cloth away to find his view full of my face, though the view was upside-down.

"You are lucky that I love you, old man," I mocked growled at him. Qui-Gon reached up with one hand, lightly grasping the nape of my neck and nipping playfully at my lower lip.

"Imp," he admonished between nibbles. If anything, my nascent grin grew wider.

"Your imp," I corrected with a quick kiss before pulling away and returning to the kitchen.

/And I thank the Force for that every day./ he sent with a wave of soft affection. I returned the feeling happily and I could feel him basking in the simple serenity of being home and well-loved. I heard him rise from his seat, finally shedding his cloak and hanging it neatly beside mine. Then the door chimed.

/Are we expecting anyone, Master?/

/Not I./ Qui-Gon replied through our bond as he palmed the main door open.

"Master Jinn?" a stranger hissed inquisitively.

"I am he. How may I serve you, Knight..." Qui-Gon trailed off politely waiting for the knight to answer his unspoken question.

"Vass'ha'ra(click)ssa," she answered. "But many call me Vass."

"Please, come in, Knight Vass," he said, and the other Jedi moved inside the apartment just as I stepped from around the half wall carrying a tray with a small pot of tea and three cups.