For his part, Luke was swiftly feeling like he'd dodged a blaster bolt. She was letting him off the hook, with a graciousness beyond her years. She knew, and she was not calling him out. She was letting it be the private follow of an old man, and he felt a surge of gratitude to her. Now he just had to avoid ever thinking of her that way again.

And ever was looking to be a very long time.

Perhaps it was a fleeting whim, born of solitude and sexual disuse, and it would pass. He hoped so. For both their sakes.

"You will, though," he said, unable to keep the hint of sadness from his tone. He shook his head. "But that's neither here nor there today." Abruptly, he turned on his heel, picked up his gear from where it sat next to his hut, and made off down the path to his habitual fishing hole.