it's quiet uptown.

Qui-Gon put his comlink away with a sigh. Again he was bombarded with images of his Padawan — images of a talented, impatient boy becoming a man.

They had been through a lot together — revenge, deceit, war, death. And things had not always been smooth between them. They each had a strong will and those wills sometimes clashed. But they had also grown to depend on and trust each other. More than a formidable Jedi team, they loved each other and were true friends.

As he looked around the empty room, Qui-Gon wanted Obi-Wan to stay a young man forever. He did not want him to change, to grow up.

If he does, I will lose him, he thought. Just as I have lost Tahl. Qui-Gon was horrified at his own desire — how could he want such a thing? Obi-Wan had his own life to live, his own destiny. It was not Qui-Gon’s place to interfere with or wish it to be any different than it was meant to be.

As he lay back on his sleep couch, guilt and sadness kept him awake. He tried to let the emotions flow out of him.

It was a long time before they finally did.