Betrayal - Say Yes
I love you.
Qui-Gon Jinn stopped abruptly, the datapad loose in his hand. He read the letter again. Surely, she must mean someone else, some other, much younger man. But there it remained, hidden among the lines of what he had assumed was another dispassionate business correspondence.
Looking at the signature of the woman who had befriended him after all his failures, he shook his head in shock. Those three words - what was she thinking? It wasn't possible that she really loved him. It must have been some mistake, or perhaps a cruel joke. That would not be like her but any other explanation was less ludicrous than this. He began to reread the letter again, searching for - mistakes, an explanation, a trick of the eye. Perhaps he had wanted it so much that his eyes would deceive his heart. It was just not...
Qui-Gon,
I have just come from the nursery. Your fequstia has finally arrived and you can pick the lot up tomorrow. I suggest that you also get some estuqw dust for the plants - they are prone to black spot and will die quickly without intervention and care. I realize that they are also highly marketable but do need care. Be sure and keep after them. I love you. In addition, the callietrop will be in next week.
Yes, there it was, hidden between the fequstia and the callietrop, she had said that she loved him. I love you. How was that possible? It was unbelievable that someone that beautiful and alive could want the failure that was Qui-Gon Jinn.
He was stunned and happy and confused. Picturing her lovely face, the coil of braided red hair framing the classic features, brought it all back, all those months of friendship and suppressed longing.
He had met Le'orath Antilles shortly after his precipitous arrival on Naboo. Still hurting, his expulsion from the Jedi Order for mere money matters continuing to shame him, he had not sought out other people nor did he welcome their presence. Failure, especially his failure, was not acceptable. But he struggled, still struggled to deal with the rejection of his life's work. And he was determined to make the farm succeed when all else had been catastrophic failure.
He had been cautiously picking out biologicals at the nursery for his first foray into the chaotic world of agriculture when Le'orath introduced herself and then began to discuss various options for his farm. She was a landscape designer, one of the best in the area, and her help was invaluable. He was too poor to pay for her expertise but when she found that he had helped in the Battle of Theed, she agreed to waive the fee. She had been coming to his farm ever since.
At first, he had been puzzled that she seemed to want to be around him. He could not understand it - he was far too old for someone that desirable and, besides a former Jedi did not have attachments. But their friendship deepened. Or so he thought. Lately, though, she had been rather standoffish. Last week, she said hardly a word as they ate at the restaurant in town - just looked at him with questioning eyes, the frown on her face disturbing and unexpected.
Her last few communications had been strictly business. That had hurt him in a way that he did not understand. Somehow, somewhen, he had learned to rely on her and he had thought that she was drifting away, away from the discard that was Qui-Gon Jinn. He accepted it, of course, because he must. But the loss had still ached.
And now, she said that she loved him - a former Jedi, a failure that the Order had kicked out like so much trash, a struggling farmer on the edge of bankruptcy - an old man.
What else was hidden among the flowers before him? He hurried on, the datapad clutched tightly in his hands.
They should be planted on the south side of your farm where it is warmer and more likely to survive. Marry me, Qui-Gon. Don't forget to watch the callietrop thoroughly when they arrive; they can spread like wildfire but are good for the soil when harvested. I will be in town for the next two days. Com me if you have any concerns. I await your reply.
Le'orath
There it was, disguised between planting and wildfire. - Marry me. More words, more astonishing, delightful, unbelievable words. She wants to marry....an antique, a worn-out fool and a failure.
Qui-Gon let out the breath that he did not know he was holding. Another breath followed and then another as he sought to soothe his churning thoughts. The chaotic musings of his love for this enigmatic woman, his selfishness in tying her to a wounded inept old man, warred with the now-realization that she wanted him for husband, scars and all.
She wants to marry me. And she is waiting for a reply.
He closed his eyes, drawing deep inside himself, looking for guidance but all he could feel was joy and a rightness that swept aside every doubt. Fumbling for his comlink, plowing forward before he had time to think and plan and find an infinity of reasons to deny his own happiness and hers, he made his decision. The sound of her voice whispered in the air as he hurried to answer her question.
"Yes. Le'orath, the answer is yes."
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