Navy Roses- Qui-Gon Jinn x OC

Chapter 7- Return to Coruscant

As Adelaide steps down onto the landing platform, she sees the welcome party that awaits her.

Senator Antilles, Senator Motha, and unfortunately, Senator Palpatine and the Chancellor await her arrival. She observes the sour expression upon Senator Palpatine's face and the indifferent expression upon the Chancellor's face.

The Jedi trail behind her and practically mirror her movement. As she bows, the two Jedi bow.

"Senator Augmentra, we are glad to see you safe," the Chancellor says. His tone is completely indifferent, and Bail can feel the tension within the woman he quickly came to be friends with. He knows and shares her disdain for the Chancellor. But he knows she will forever be the diplomat.

"Thank you, Chancellor. I am glad to be back on Coruscant, where I should be," Adelaide says, an air of finality around her.

The Chancellor doesn't regard her with much attention, but his aids do. They seem to be quite interested in the fiery Senator from Dolomar. Qui-Gon notices this and watches them with caution. He has never been one to care for politicians. That is, of course, until the arrival of the Senator of Dolomar.

The Chancellor's comm link beeps, and he looks down at it before nodding to Adelaide and walking away. She waits until he is out of earshot to turn around to face the Jedi.

"Master Jinn, would you and your Padawan be so kind as to give me a moment with my fellow Senators?" she asks, looking up at Qui-Gon with something in her eyes. He can't place it, and his mouth goes dry. He simply nods before retreating with his Padawan.

As Qui-Gon retreats, Adelaide smiles and shakes her head while turning back to the Senators before her. Bail and Mon catch the glimmer in the Dolomarians eye before she returns to business.

"So, what has happened that I get a welcoming committee?" she asks, clearly assuming the worst. Senator Palpatine is the one who looks at her and answers her.

"Well, it appears that the Trade Federation has been garnering support from the Outer Rim and Uncharted Territories," he says, his voice filled with fake compassion. Adelaide doesn't believe that the old man is capable of feeling any genuine emotions.

"Outer Rim and Uncharted territories, even if they are members of the Republic, often go unheard. Believe me, Dolomar is one of many," Adelaide says, everything in her body telling her to tell this man as little as possible.

She looks to the three Senators before her and they all nod in agreement. Palpatine has seemingly made his point, so he turns to leave, not even acknowledging the other three Senators.

Adelaide relaxes a bit, now knowing that the uneasy feeling Palpatine's presence gives her will fade as he walks away. She turns to Mon and Bail with a soft, tired smile.

"As much as I would love to catch up with you both-"

"You look exhausted, Adelaide. Take your Jedi and go rest. We can catch up tomorrow," Mon says. Bail nods in agreement with the woman, and Adelaide smiles sweetly at the two.

"Thank you. Both of you. I'll see you tomorrow," Adelaide says, turning back towards her Jedi, seeing that Qui-Gon immediately meets her gaze. She smiles and nods for them to come back over.

When they reach her she turns and begins walking. She doesn't bother waiting for them, and nobody says anything the entire way to her apartment. Her third apartment, actually. She had never seen the first one, it having blown up. The second one was broken into and their was an attempt on her life. So now it was the third one.

As the elevator dinged and the doors opened, she was met with an amazing sight.

"Autrailia!" Adelaide exclaims, the Jedi sharing a look as she runs to embrace her sister.

The two Jedi step out of the elevator and bow. After all, Autrailia is a ruling queen. They watch as the sisters embrace, and when they finally part, Autrailia smiles at the two Jedi.

"Please, Jedi. There is no need for such formalities behind closed doors," the Queen says, her eyes lingering on the shared smile between her sister and the Master Jedi.

"Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan, this is my sister, Queen Autrailia Augmentra. Autrailia, Master Jedi Qui-Gon Jinn and his Padawan Obi-Wan Kenobi," Adelaide introduces, her own gaze lingering on Qui-Gon's.

Autrailia, being the ever-supportive sister, asks Obi-Wan to escort her to her own temporary residence. The Padawan agrees with his Masters nod of approval. And then there were two.

Adelaide and Qui-Gon had yet to break their gazes. The calm blue of Qui-Gon's eyes calmed the Senator and distracted her from all of her worries. The intense blue eyes of the Senator reminded Qui-Gon of the intense emotions he allowed himself to feel.

"Care to watch the sunset, Qui-Gon?"

He was pulled from his thoughts at the question. He nodded and followed her to the balcony. He stood far enough away from her, not wanting to make her uncomfortable. She smiles at his timidness. She moves closer to him and wraps her arm around his midsection. He tenses up for a moment, before he relaxes under her touch and drapes his arm around her shoulders. He pulls her flush against him, and she simply smiles, taking in this one pure moment.

Adelaide stands on the balcony, reveling in Qui-Gon's arms, watching the sunset. She simply allows her mind to rest, not worried about tomorrow. She allows herself to relax as Qui-Gon's fingertips trail up and down the bare skin on her arm. Her whole body feels like it's on fire. She simply allows herself to adore the moment of peace she and Qui-Gon have been blessed with.

She knows her sister could read her the moment she looked at Qui-Gon. She knows Autrailia is well aware that her sister garners feelings for the tall, handsome, rebellious Master Jedi. She knows her sister will be both happy and disappointed, but Adelaide can't bother with thoughts of disappointment now. She simply revels in the sensations of being in the arms of the man she has come to care for so intimately.

She looks up at the man who holds her, discovering that his eyes have been on her the entire time. Adelaide reaches up with one hand and holds his handsome face in her hand. She simply admires him for a moment before pushing herself up onto her tiptoes to kiss the man. Qui-Gon responds immediately, and Adelaide completely forgets the beauty of the sunset. She simply becomes engulfed in the tenderness of the kiss her and her Jedi share under the fading Coruscant sunset.