I'm not gonna say much about this at the start, I think I'll be a bit evil and leave you guessing for a bit...

The song was inspired by my year level going to see Priscilla, and woah it was brilliant! I swear there's a reason for these flashbacks in the story, they'll be in italics. Of course there'll the odd occasional italic in the normal text, but I'll leave it up to your good sense to judge what's what. Anyway, hard to type right now, I got a bit irate at the freezer when it wouldn't open and ended up smacking my elbow on the side when it suddenly decided to open.

And I'm nearly finished the next chapter to Not Calm so no, I'm not abandoning it or anything!

Qui-Gon pursed his lips thoughtfully and tilted his head to one side. Long fingers drummed on the edge of the speakers and one booted foot tapped on the carpet. Qui-Gon flicked the volume higher. His hair swung across his shoulders as he bobbed his head and hummed quietly. Humming under his breath, he shifted his weight to the other foot slightly.

'I can't exist-' he mouthed the words dramatically, 'I'll surely miss your tender kiss,' Qui-Gon bent his elbows and did a small cha-cha in front of the speaker. The music grew steadily louder and the footsteps on the carpet grew heavier. The electronic beat matched the Jedi's side-steps and he shuffled across the centre of the room.

'Don't leave me this waaay,' Qui-Gon's deep voice increased and he wiggled his shoulders from side to side. The music crescendoed and he spun around.

'Baby!' Legging covered knees bent half-way and Qui-Gon threw his arm out dramatically and pointed at the fridge, 'my heart is full of love and,' he pounded his arm in mid-air, 'desire-for-you!'

'To come on down and do what you've got-to-doooo,' his voice was draw powerfully out in a stretched vibrato, eyes screwed closed in mock intensity. Both arms and hands were now stretched out imploring towards the fridge.

'You started this fire down in my soul,' a voice joined in and a smaller figure slid dramatically out from the kitchen door on socked feet. Obi-Wan skidded to a halt on the tiles with a grin. 'But can't you see it's burning out of control?' He minced over to Qui-Gon and flipped a wrist at him.

Qui-Gon seized his padawan's outstretched hand and sprang to his feet.

'Now come on down and satisfy this-' both Jedi's heads snapped sideways towards the fridge, 'need-in-me!' Obi-Wan's braid whipped around and the pair marched with their clasped hands outstretched into the kitchen.

'Only your good loving-' they halted sharply, 'can set me free!'

The music continued playing in the background as Obi-Wan pulled out the fridge and tossed Qui-Gon an orange.

'So this is what happens when we run out of coffee in the morning, Master?'

Qui-Gon swatted Obi-Wan lightly over the head.

SWSWSWSWSW

One hand hovered indecisively over the long padawan braid, the various beads woven into it no longer looked bright and comforting, they looked dull, the small weight of them almost dragging his head down. The other hand nervously fingered the scissors.

Obi-Wan yawned widely and raked a hand through his ginger hair. His eyes felt gritty as though he hadn't even slept at all, it felt as though he had just gone to sleep. Reluctantly he pushed back the sheets and swung his legs over the side of the low bed. He yawned again and rested his forehead in his hands, rubbing wearily across his stubble. With a groan he heaved himself and tottered across the carpet and into the kitchen. His feet pattered quietly against the cold tiles and the fridge door pulled open with a hiss, flooding the room with artificial light. Obi-Wan grabbed a bottle of juice and drank straight from the carton, swiping a hand across his mouth and replacing the bottle on the bench.

The early morning light slowly filled the room, giving the apartment a warm orange glow. Obi-Wan padded over to the floor length window and stared silently out as the planet slowly woke up. Even in the morning, the heat was already growing and the city's occupants were bustling sleepily in the streets, avoiding the mid-day heat that was to come. From his view Obi-Wan could see the stretches of vast sandy desert that lay beyond the outskirts of the buildings. Small huts dotted the edges of the city, slowly growing less and less until there was only yellow sand. Despite being a capital, the city was quite small and backwards, the people dressed in simple fabrics of greys and browns and carrying baskets. Obi-Wan rubbed his eyes again tiredly and turned away from the window, drawing down the blind as he went. Already the sun was glowing hotly in the distance.

SWSWSWSWSW

Qui-Gon yawned and stretched, dangling one hand idly over the edge of the bed. He could hear his padawan moving around in the next room, the hiss of the frdige opening and the slap of bare feet on the floor. There was a loud thump as the fridge door was slammed shut again, noisy footsteps and the sigh of the couch as a someone landed heavily on it. Qui-Gon muttered sleepily and buried his head under the pillow. Then voices filled the apartment and the tv turned on. With a groan Qui-Gon pulled his head out from under the pillow, why did his padawan never manage to keep quiet in the mornings?

'Anakin, turn the tv down!'

SWSWSWSWSW

'Obi-Wan!' A cheery voice called out to him from a door on the side of the street.

Obi-Wan smiled and hurried over, making his way across the sand to the shade on the side. A small man stood in the shadows with one hand holding a battered grey door open. Obi-Wan stooped and bent his head to pass into the house.

'So what's this I hear about you leaving, hm?' The door creaked shut behind him and the interior was plunged into cool shade.

'I'm leaving apparently, the Council feels I'm no longer needed here,' Obi-Wan reclined with a sigh into the couch, resting his feet comfortably on the low table.

'Are we big enough to survive with out Daddy Kenobi now?' The older man's voice was teasing and he grinned affectionately as he seated himself opposite Obi-Wan.

Obi-Wan smiled back and waved a hand dismissively in front of his face.

'Never, Gianni, you'll be begging to have me back by the end of the month. Who will defend you against those Andvarg raids?'

Gianni snorted and pushed the biscuit tin across the table with his toe.

'Shove a biscuit in you mouth, Kenobi.'

'No,' Obi-Wan replied through a mouthful of biscuit, 'the Council has decided that my presence has suitably scared them into permanent submission.'

'Because you must be a Jedi to be able to scare the Andvargs,' Gianni teased lightly as he leant further back in his wicker chair.

'Knee-high furry beasts are terrifying, Gianni, really,' Obi-Wan closed his eyes and rested his head back with a small smile.

Gianni chuckled and fanned himself absently with a wrinkled hand.

'I still wonder why you were sent in the first place, Obi, the only destruction those beasts cause is the wailing from kids when their parents refuse to let them keep the furry buggers as pets.'

'It was my first mission, still is technically-' Gianni gave a loud snort of derision, '-yes, despite me being called out numerous times, alright alright, me being called out about once a month,' Obi-Wan admitted and continued on, 'I'm sure the Council wanted to make it simple.'

'Well, you don't get much more simple. Anyway, that's not the true story is it?' Gianni opened one bright brown eye shrewdly.

Obi-Wan didn't answer.

'Well,' Gianni creaked forward onto his feet with a resigned sigh, 'if you haven't told me in 9 years I don't suppose you're going to tell me now,' he eyed Obi-Wan still face hopefully, 'nope, good guess.'

'I needed to get away from the Temple for a bit,' Obi-Wan said suddenly, stopping his friend in his tracks, 'this was a good place to come. I found friends here,' he said with wry smile.

'And now they're summoning you home?'

'This is home,' Obi-Wan waved his hand and gestured about the room.

'Glad to hear you say that,' the old man's wizened brown face creased into a sly grin, 'I know someone else who'll be glad to hear you say that.'

Obi-Wan slumped down into the chair and lolled his head over the backrest with a groan.

'Jesmin's been asking after you again, she's very pretty,' Gianni gave a conceding nod then glanced sideways at Obi-Wan, 'and very determined.'

'You can have no idea how many times I have tried to explain that I'm a Jedi, I really think she just ignores me every time!' Obi-Wan exclaimed in an agonised voice, his hands raised dramatically towards the ceiling.

'You're going to have to tell her you're leaving.'

'Why?' The younger man pulled his head up and looked horrified, 'I have had no relations with her what so ever.'

'I think that's what annoys her,' Gianni said blandly.

Obi-Wan flopped back in resignation.

'It's too hot to think of anything like that,' he groaned.

Gianni raised one white eyebrow.

'Bad choice of words,' Obi-Wan said hastily.

Gianni smiled affectionately back at his younger friend and patted his shoulder with a gnarled hand.

'Talk to her at the gathering tonight, surrounded by people, you can't be cornered,' he walked slowly across the slate covered floor, 'now, come in here and use your special tricks to lift this box, my back isn't what it used to be.'

SWSWSWSWSW

Obi-Wan walked quickly back to his house while keeping in the shade, his head bent forward with his hood pulled up. The heat was nearly unbearable, but so was the burning sun on his face. His once lightly tanned skin was now a golden colour and his hair shiny and partially bleached from the sun. Reaching his door he raised on wrist and slid the door open mentally, once inside he pushed back his hood with a sigh of relief and stood for a few moments enjoying the cooling. No matter how long he had lived here, the heat was still unbearable. Climbing the stairs he entered the kitchen and stopped in the middle of the room. Despite living in a foreign planet, his apartment still managed to clearly state he was a Jedi. There was little personal possessions and the main piece of furniture was a large mat in the centre of the lounge room.

Obi-Wan paused for a moment, then stripped off his tunic and grasped his lightsabre from his discarded belt. With the lightsabre in hand he stepped onto the mat and proceeded to slowly warm up with easy steps and stretches. The lighting inside was dim and the only sound was Obi-Wan's breathing and the heavy thump of his feet on the mat. He stepped around quickly from one end of the mat to the other with his lightsabre arm held stiffly out straight, he concentrated on keeping his muscles relaxed and let his mind drift. Without meaning to, his movement shifted into a padawan exercise, his legs stepping out in still remembered habit. A young padawan bit his lip in concentration and held out his lightsabre, his eyes flicked hopefully towards the man at the edge of the training mat. Immediately Obi-Wan tensed and deactivated his lightsabre with a hiss and snapped open his eyes. The blue light disappeared from the room, plunging into a dim orange glow, Obi-Wan stalked off the mat, dropping his lightsabre hurriedly as he went.

Obi-Wan flung open the fridge door and hastily grasped the juice bottle again, taking a long drink before replacing it back in the shelf. He rested his elbows on the bench top and placed his head into his hands, absently his fingers tangled through his hair, withdrawing to leave it standing in random spikes. With a sigh he raked his fingers distractedly though his hair again and closed his eyes tightly. It was only recently in dreams and quiet moments that his memories were rising to the surface of his mind again. Obi-Wan sighed again and reburied the unwanted thoughts.

SWSWSWSWSW

'Obi-Wan!' A pretty brunette walked hurriedly over to him and linked her bare arm in his with a flirtatious smile..

Obi-Wan smiled politely and inwardly gritted his teeth painfully. He cast a hurried glance over the crowd with a silent plead in his eyes before turning a forced smile back to the women hanging off his arm. Out of the corner of his eye he saw one of his friends surreptitiously holding a drink with a slight smirk.

'How are you this evening?' Jesmin fluttered her eyelashes prettily up at him.

'Hot,' he answered truthfully, then winced. Behind them his friend choked on his drink.

Jesmin eyed his chest appreciatively.

'Yes, very,' she agreed fervently.

Obi-Wan extricated his arm from her grasp and bowed politely.

'I must speak to Marc, if you'll excuse me, Jesmin,' he smiled at her and turned away. She pouted in annoyance at his retreating his back.

Obi-Wan forced himself to walk calmly but still walked at a rather fast pace through the crowd. Marc approached him and wordlessly handed him a drink. Obi-Wan stretched out one hand and accepted it gratefully, tilting his head up to down it in one go, gasping as his eyes squinted and watered.

'Thanks,' he squeaked almost inaudibly in a high-pitched voice

'She is really very pretty you know,' Marc peered over Obi-Wan's shoulder to stare at her through the crowd.

'I know, believe me I know,' Obi-Wan agreed fervently and downed another drink with a shudder.

Marc laughed and slapped Obi-Wan's back, steering him through the groups of people.

'Be strong, mate.'

The pair wandered around, stopping frequently to greet people. Obi-Wan laughed and hugged, received pinches on the cheek, shaken fingers and words of advice from the elderly, loud coarse jokes from his younger friends, friendly kisses on the cheek from the women and the occasional hug around the leg from a younger child. Loud music blasted into the mild night and streams of moving light lit up patches of the dark sky. The sounds of laughter and celebration rang throughout the large party. The rest of the city was silent and dead, the entire population was gathered on the outskirts of desert to farewell their friend.

'A toast, to Obi-Wan!' Marc raised his drink can up and winked at Obi-Wan.

Obi-Wan gestured violently and tried to mime lowering his voice. Marc winked roguishly at him.

'TO OBI-WAN!' He threw his head back bellowed into the night.

'To Obi-Wan!' The crowd roared and simultaneously raised their drinks towards Obi-Wan.

Obi-Wan raised his hands resignedly and allowed himself to be hoisted onto his friends shoulders. He wobbled to the side and blew a dramatic kiss at the gathered crowd, they laughed loudly and cheered. He grinned back and pulled an exaggerated expression of fear as Marc wobbled unevenly again.

'He's had a bit to drink,' Obi-Wan mouthed in a stage whisper and pointed at his friends head .

Marc threw out his arm and lifted his drink in acquiescence.

'I would like to thank you all,' Obi-Wan gestured widely towards the crowd, 'you've been an awesome group of friends and helped me defend this magnificent city,' he paused while they cheered, 'this magnificent city against the terrors of the Andvargs!' Everyone whooped and laughed. Obi-Wan patted Marc's head and tried to set himself back on the sandy ground. Marc refused to let go and waved his arms for attention.

'I think we'd all like to thank this charming man for being here for us all for 9 years, fighting for us, helping our city and most of all,' Marc looked up with a true smile at Obi-Wan, 'for being a wonderful friend.'

There was a moment of silence, then the crowd surged forward with a yell and Obi-Wan was surrounded by a suffocating mass of cheering people slapping his back with congratulations and hugging him enthusiastically. Above the throng of people Obi-Wan locked eyes with Marc. Marc dipped his head solemnly and silently raised his drink in a toast to Obi-Wan.

SWSWSWSWSW

Obi-Wan collapsed under the weight of Marc and Raphel, both slumped off his shoulder and staggered down onto the sand.

'You've just about cleared up the drinks table single-handedly,' Obi-Wan pointed a finger at them sternly.

They peered blearily up at him and then looked at each with raised eyebrows. With an unsteady lunge they reached out to seize Obi-Wan round the knees, tackling him to the ground with a thump. Raphel rolled onto Obi-Wan's ankles and used Marc's shoulder to haul himself into a sitting position, pinning Obi-Wan under them. Obi-Wan wriggled violently while laughing and inhaling half the sand.

'Hear anything, Marc?' Raphel inquired innocently.

'Nop,' Marc took a long drink and sighed contentedly.

A hand reached up and quickly snatched away Marc's drink, wavering it about and nearly spilling its contents.

'Woah! Mean, Kenobi, mean!' Both men unsuccessfully made grabs at the dancing can, each time having it dart out of range with a muffled laugh from their prisoner.

'Oh sod that,' Raphel turned and flung himself onto Obi-Wan's arm, slapping his hands across the sand and trying to pin down the drink.

'Might I have a word?' A stranger's voice interrupted the 3 men's mad tackle for the drink.

Obi-Wan raised his head from the sand and spat out a mouthful of dirt, looking up from under Marc's arm into the the stranger's face.