thefinaljedi | Appointments

[Luke nods, slipping an arm around her waist]

It is special, and it shows. You're so thoughtful, you know. So thank you.

[He really cannot be more grateful, you're a wonderful part of his life, and probably the only reason he's still able to stay here without going nuts.]

[It's much the same for her. Oh, she's lucky - very lucky - to have a friend from home in Rei, and the other friends she's made here. She knows that. But in a place where people come and go so often and so unpredictably, someone who's been by her side here as long as Luke has... that's different. Special.

And that's what prompts Ami to lean over to give Luke's cheek a tiny kiss. Immediately after she does it, she looks just the slightest bit embarrassed, but she doesn't flush or make excuses.]

[Luke is admittedly a little surprised, given how she'd been when they first kissed. This, if nothing else, showed him just how much he did mean to her. As much as their Christmas encounter.

It only takes him a moment to smile and reach up to brush away some stray hair from her face. And kiss her right back, this time on the lips.]

[It's a soft touch, and she likes that. She doesn't want it to end, and when it does, she quickly leans forward again, as if the most she wants right now is that quick breath of air before plunging right back in to the depths of the kiss.]

[Well, when she leans forward, he takes that as a cue to keep it up. This time, the kiss is deeper, and he reaches up to pull her in close.]

[It's just that she feels like she misses him. She breaks off only reluctantly when the kiss ends.]

This might sound a little strange, but it seems like a long time since I've seen you like this.

[Or it could not be strange at all, but the fact she's essentially been gone for that time.]

[He gently runs a hand down her shoulder before letting it drop, and that is reluctant as well.]

It has been. Nearly a month. That's not strange, at all.

[It's not. It's just that she was here, except that it wasn't really her- and that never makes her feel comfortable in her skin.

It's also why she's missed him enough for all these little touches, as if she's storing them up to make up for what she lacked while they were apart.]

I hope we'll have some time for awhile now, just like this. [Don't go away, Luke; and she won't, either, if she can help it.]

I'm not moving from this spot until you ask me to.

[He means that, too. His hand reaches out to hold hers, and he just gives her one of those small smiles.]

If that's the case, you'll be here a long time. [Ami gives Luke a small smile as she puts her hand in his.] I'm very greedy for seeing you right now.

I have no objections to this, I'm a patient man.

[He squeezes her hand gently.]

And to be perfectly honest, I'm a little greedy when it comes to you too.

I want you to be greedy. [Maybe that's saying more than she should, but she's had time to learn to be more direct about these things.]

Well then...

[He'll take that opportunity to scoop her up into his lap with a laugh]

[There's a habitual quick look around, as if she half expects someone to be watching. When of course no one is,she relaxes and makes no move to leave her spot.]

This is better.

[Luke smiles, holding her close and noting that habit.]

It's just us and Artoo.

[Luke... That isn't the most reassuring.]

I'd rather it was just us, just for right now.

Oh? Well then...

[Luke turns briefly, and calls into the other room.]

Artoo, I'd like you to go ahead and power down for the day. I'm going to need you tomorrow more, and you need to save energy.

[There's a muffled vweep of protest from down in the basement]

Really, it's alright. Take a day off, reboot your datacore.

[Another beep and the droid powers down...]

Better?

[She feels a bit guilty as she hears Artoo's complaint, but they can make it up to the droid later. Some privacy has been earned, really.]

Thank you. I'll do something nice for Artoo soon.

Don't worry about that. A little extra rest never hurt him.

[He squeezes tight, giving her an unreserved hug now.]

So...where were we?

[Ami slips back comfortably into the space left for her in Luke's arms.]

We were just right here.

We were. And now we're back, and alone.

[He kisses her again]

[How ~~wonderfully~~ sneaky!]

Is it alright if I stay a little while...? [Like, say, most of the evening?]

You can stay as long as you like.

[Like, say, the entire evening if you want]

[For a second, she feels that oddly contradictory rush of a girl not under a parent's authority: the thrill of freedom, the worry about what she should be doing.

But to tell the truth, she thinks Mama would approve of Luke. And she has nowhere else she wants to be this evening.]

I might take you at your word.

Well, what would you like to do then? Now that you've got me alone for as long as you like.

[Luke, well, he never really had that experience. Since leaving Tatooine, he's been a bit more involved in the whole growing up than most people his age.]

I'm at your disposal.

[He laughs softly.]

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