InsaneJournal

Original poster: raina_at

Title: Bonding Universe
Author: Anne Higgins
Rating: Anne Higgins calls it 'sex', I'd give it R
Pairing: Q/O
Warnings: there's no chan, but it gnaws on the edges.
Author's e-mail, web site and/or LJ id: annehiggins@mindspring.com;
Her homepage, as far as I know, she doesn't have a lj.
Link to story: Bonding through the Years, Bonding Universe Part 1
Bedrest is Boring, Bonding Universe Part 2
Care and Feeding of a Bondmate, Bonding Universe Part 3
Reasons for recommending: This is a true classic of the TPM fandom, one that is either loved or viewed a bit suspiciously in my experience. First of all, well, it's cute. Secondly, through much of this story, Obi-Wan is a child, but the relationship he and Qui-Gon have is nevertheless romantic in nature, even if sex is only a part of it once Obi-Wan is grown up.
Why do I like it, then? Well, for one, I like the cuteness. I like Anne Higgins' writing style. I like the idea of a romance removed from the physical, that is purely spiritual in nature, and yet absolute, like only a child can love. And thirdly, it deals with a theme very close to my heart (*cough*): Fate versus Choice.
In this story, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan are destined to be together, they've got a fully formed soul bond from the very moment Obi-Wan is born, and there is nothing either of them can do about it. What fascinates me about the story is the contrast between Obi-Wan's easy acceptance of the bond (it's all he ever knew) and Qui-Gon's struggle to accept and embrace it. Anne Higgins could have done more to flesh this conflict out, but it's rudimentarily there, addressed in the question of whether if he'd had a choice, Qui-Gon would have chosen the bond. I would really like to see something written in this universe once (Anne Higgins has given it free to play with, as far as I know) that deals a bit more closely with that aspect.

Quote from story: Qui-Gon could neither hear nor cared what Mace said. His focus was fixed on his own task. The call in his head almost painful, he held out his hands, vaguely heard himself command the woman to push, then used the Force to both ease her pain and the baby's passage.
A boy tumbled into his hands. All wet and scrunched as only a newborn could be. He snatched up a towel laid out by the crew, and wiped the face framed with blond wisps of hair. Mace dealt with the umbilical cord, using his lightsaber on low power to sever the connection between mother and child.
"Cry! He should cry!"
He heard the alarm in the mother's voice, but could not share it, and found himself reaching out with his mind. //Are you well, little one?//
Eyes the color of any newborn human's settled on him, and a warmth swept through Qui-Gon. It was as if all the love in the galaxy had come to live within him. He stared back, unable to comprehend what was happening, then moaned when Mace took the baby from his arms.
"No, please." He reached for the infant.
//Qui-Gon, enough.// Mace's voice cut through his mind like an icy wind. //Go to our quarters.//
//But-//
//Now!//
Startled by the anger he felt radiating from his lover, exhausted by their ordeal and completely bewildered by the feeling of almost pure joy singing within him, Qui-Gon obeyed. As he left, he heard the baby begin to cry at last.