thefinaljedi | Appointments

[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.]

[Really, she just wants to be with him. She wants to know that everything is as it should be and he's not far away from her.

What she says is only slightly different.]

I want to be close to you.

Well, I don't know how much closer we can get...unless

[He gives her a soft smile. He's not usually one to infer such things. But if she wants closeness, he can't think of much else. But that's her choice.

But he does hug her more tightly. Trying to give her that closeness.]

[She's got to be aware of what he means; but she doesn't bring herself to say it. She seems content instead to let the evening take its natural course and for now, she simply slips into his hold.]

You're very good to me.

And you're very good to me.

[Luke's more than happy to let it lie at that. He's always happy to just spend time with her. Because for him, she's just what he needs. The right mix of sweet and strong.]

Too good, sometimes. If only because of the chocolate.

The chocolate? Is that it? [Come on, Luke, you can do better than that. And for once, she seems confident still, instead of thrown off by the joke.]

That, dear, is just the most recent thing.

[He just smiles, glad to hold her like this.]

But letting me hold you, be near you, and be a part of your life. That's just something I'm happy to have. More than any gift. You put so much thought into everything, and I'm grateful that you do that for me. I'm incredibly lucky.

It's the same for me. It might be selfish to want, here, but as long as you're here, that's what I want the most.

[All his kindness and sweetness are appreciated. His nobility is a wonderful quality. But all she really asks is, always: be there.]

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