Epilogue


        Jonny smiled as he watched his friends leave hand in hand, then stretched
and yawned loudly.  "Well, I think I'll turn in for the night.  I never
thought I'd say it, but all this excitement has finally caught up with me. 
G'night!"
        "Goodnight, son," said Dr. Quest, looking up from his book.
        "Goodnight," echoed Race absently, still staring out the window at the
garden.
        "Goodnight, Jonny," said Neela, rising and nodding to the two men.  "I
believe I'll follow his example.  Rest well, my friends."
        Race continued to look outside while the others left.  After a moment he
got up and went to the window, watching his daughter and the young sultan
strolling through the garden.  Soon Benton joined him and broke the uneasy
silence.
        "They're growing up," he said quietly.
        Race tried with some success to speak with his old spark.  "Heck, Benton,
you don't have to be a phenomenologist to know that.''  He sighed.  "But
that doesn't make it any easier either."

        Oblivious to the rest of the world, Hadji and Jessie sat on a bench in the
garden, looking up at the stars.  Jessie's head lay on his shoulder, his
arms around her waist.  Hadji closed his eyes and let his head rest against
hers.  He still halfway believed that this was all a dream, but if it was
he meant to make the best of it as long as it lasted.
        Jessie sighed, snuggling closer.  "This is nice," she said softly.
        "Mmmmm…" his reply was muffled against her hair.
        After a moment she twisted to look up at him, and he opened his eyes. 
"What's wrong?"
        She sighed.  "Nothing, it's just…. I'm scared, Hadji.  I mean about us." 
She smiled suddenly.  "We're an 'us'."
        His arm tightened around her.  "Yes, we are.  But that is what is worrying
you?"
        Jessie nodded.  "It's just that neither one of us has really had any
experience with a relationship before, and I'm pretty sure I don't want to
mess this one up."
        "I understand the feeling," agreed Hadji.  He looked into her luminous
eyes.  "I don't want to lose you, Jessie, and I promise I will never do
anything to ruin what we have."
        "Ditto," said Jessie, tilting her head up for his kiss.
        When they parted Hadji looked at her and raised an eyebrow.  "Something
else is worrying you, isn't it?"
        She smiled at how well he could read her thoughts.  "I'm just a little
concerned about how the others will feel about us.  Jonny seemed pretty
happy, but I'm not sure about Dr. Quest or your mom, and especially my
dad."
        Hadji nodded.  "I can see how Race might be upset by the change between
us.  I will talk to him tomorrow, if you like," he offered.  "Get his
permission, so to speak."
        Jessie sighed with relief.  "Thanks Hadji, I think that would be best. 
And we should talk to the others too."
        "Of course."  He pulled her closer into his arms.  "Don't worry, Jessie,
everything is going to be fine."
        Jessie's eyes sparkled mischievously in the moonlight as she wrapped her
arms around his neck.  "Really?  Why don't you convince me…."

        Back in the palace, Hadji and Jessie walked quietly down the hall and
stopped at Jessie's room.  She turned to him with a whispered question. 
"So we will talk to everyone tomorrow after breakfast?"
        He nodded.  "After breakfast."
        She smiled.  "Alright.  Goodnight, Hadji."
        "Goodnight," he whispered back.
        She stepped naturally into his arms, as if they had been used to saying
goodnight with a kiss.  Hadji was pleasantly surprised by how easily they
had made the transition from friends to, well, more than friends, without
any of the awkwardness he had expected.  It seemed that they were meant to
be this way, and he could not imagine how they had gotten along before. 
They stood there for a long moment before finally breaking the kiss.
        "You should go," said Jessie softly.
        "Yes."
But instead they both leaned forward again, closing their eyes as their
lips met.  Jessie leaned against Hadji, dizzy with gladness and grateful
for his strong arms around her for support.  She wondered briefly what the
others would say if they saw them now, but decided that she didn't care.
        "You should…probably…really go now," she managed between kisses.
        "Right," breathed Hadji in reply.  "This is me…leaving…I'm going…."
        At last they broke apart and smiled at each other.
        "Okay," whispered Jessie, trying to breathe normally.  "I'll see you in
the morning."  And she turned quickly and disappeared into her room.

Hadji knocked softly on Jessie's door the next morning.  No answer.  He
knocked louder.  "Jessie?"  Still no answer.  Suddenly apprehensive, he
burst through the door, expecting to face a group of assassins.  He sank
against the doorframe in relief as he saw Jessie undisturbed and still
asleep in her bed.  She lay on her side, arms folded over her waist, a
slight smile curving her lips.  The morning sunlight streamed in through
the windows and gleamed on the bright hair spilling across the pillows.
        Hadji's breath caught in his throat as he looked at her.  For a long time
he stood at the foot of the bed, just listening to Jessie's quiet, steady
breathing and watching her peaceful face.   He reached out to touch her,
but she looked so beautiful, so serene, that he didn't want to disturb her.
 He let his hand drop and walked quietly from the room, turning to look at
her one last time before closing the door behind him.

        Hadji was still smiling a few minutes later when he entered the dining
room, where the rest of the family was already seated at breakfast.
        "Good morning, everyone," he said brightly, stooping to kiss his mother's
cheek as he took his place beside her at the table.  "Please excuse my
tardiness.  I hope you were not waiting for me."
        Jonny swallowed his sip of tea and grinned.  "Not technically.  But
where's Jessie?"
        "She is still in bed.  I decided it was best to let her rest.  We were up
late and didn't get much sleep last night…."  Hadji's voice trailed off as
he noticed everyone staring at him strangely.
        There was an inarticulate gurgle from Race's end of the table.  Hadji
stared at his family, perplexed.  Neela's face was carefully neutral, but
her eyes seemed a little wider than usual.  Dr. Quest's expression wavered
between surprise and confusion and finally settled on embarrassment.  Race
had flushed an interesting shade of purple and seemed to be struggling with
an invisible noose.  Jonny kept his eyes fixed on his plate, but the
corners of his mouth twitched suspiciously.
        Hadji blinked, frowning. "Is something wrong?"
        Dr. Quest cleared his throat awkwardly.  "Er…Hadji, where exactly did you
say Jessie was?"
        "She is asleep in her room, or at least she was when I left a few moments
ago," replied Hadji slowly.  "Why?"
        Race made another choking sound as Dr. Quest ignored Hadji's last question
and asked another of his own.  "You were in Jessie's room, then?"
        Hadji nodded.  "I went to see if she was awake yet, because we had gone to
bed late last night."
        Dr. Quest was having difficulty speaking.  "And you went to bed late
because…?"
        "We went for a walk in the garden, and we talked for a long time."
        Dr. Quest sat back with a relieved sigh.  "So you didn't…that is, you and
Jessie…never…uh…."  He fumbled for the right words.
        "We thought that you two had--"  Jonny blurted, then thought better of it.
 "Um, well, that you might have…you know…" his voice trailed off lamely.
        "Ohhh," breathed Hadji softly as realization dawned.  Then, "Oh."  His
dark skin seemed to deepen.  He looked around the table.  "No, we did not…I
would never…."
        "Never what?" came Jessie's cheerful voice from the doorway.  She smiled
at them expectantly.
        Hadji immediately relaxed when he saw her face, still flushed with sleep,
and he smiled back.  "I would never want to make anyone wait to eat this
delicious meal," he finished smoothly.
        Jessie laughed and sat down next to Race, who seemed to be recovering. 
"Me neither.  I'm starving!"
        Good call, Hadj!  thought Jonny, impressed, watching the others resume
their meal.  Neela deftly led the conversation in a new direction, and soon
the uncomfortable exchange was apparently forgotten.  But as the dishes
were being cleared Hadji and Jessie exchanged a glance, and Hadji looked
around the table.
        "So what does everyone have planned for today?"
        Jessie spoke up first.  "I was hoping that Neela might show me those old
saris she was telling me about."  She looked at Hadji's mom.  "That is, if
you have time."
        Neela smiled.  "Of course, Jessie.  We can see them now, if you like."
        "Great!  Bye guys," said Jessie, following Neela out of the room.  'Good
luck,' she mouthed at Hadji as she left.
        "Well," said Jonny, "I think I'll take Bandit for a walk.  It's such a
nice day."
        "Good idea, son," said Dr. Quest.  "Mind if I join you?"
        "Sure, Pop."  Jonny looked at Race and Hadji.  "What about you guys?"
        Race shook his head, grinning.  "Nah, I wouldn't wanna interrupt your
quality time."  They laughed.
        "You two go ahead," agreed Hadji.
        "Okay.  C'mon Pop, I'll race you!"  They made a dash for the door, leaving
Race and Hadji alone.
        Hadji swallowed, feeling ridiculous.  "Race, I was wondering if we
could…talk."
        Here we go, thought Race.  He shrugged.  "You're the sultan."
        "Perhaps we should go someplace more private," suggested Hadji, indicating
the palace guards standing silently outside the door.
        Race raised an eyebrow, but nodded, and they headed for his room.

        Meanwhile Jessie was admiring Neela's traditional dresses.
        "Neela, these are beautiful," she exclaimed, holding up a length of
delicate fabric covered with intricate designs.
        "Thank you," replied Neela with a smile.  "Here, let me show you how it
goes."  She took the material and draped it around Jessie's body, turning
her to look into the mirror on the wall.  "It suits you well."
        Jessie blushed.  "Thanks."
        "I have an idea," said Neela.  "Why don't you pick the ones you like best,
and you can have them."
        "Oh, no, I couldn't --- " protested Jessie.
        "I insist," said Neela firmly.  "I never wear these anymore, and they look
better on you anyway."
        Jessie relented, smiling.  "If you insist.  Thank you, Neela."
        "You're welcome.  Now you must take this one," she said, raising a swath
of silky fabric decorated with deep greens and blues.  "It will bring out
the color of your eyes."  Her own eyes glinted mischievously.  "And
besides, Hadji always liked it."
        Jessie burst out laughing.  "I should have known I could never hide
anything from you, Neela.  You knew about Hadji and me even before we did,
admit it."
        "Well, I did have my suspicions, yes," she acknowledged.  "But I was
beginning to fear I had been mistaken until the day Hadji asked you to
leave."
        Jessie flushed scarlet.  "I can't believe you all saw us!" she groaned,
mortified.
        Neela hid a smile.  "Don't worry, Jessie, you have nothing to be ashamed
of.  No one was upset, and I was very happy to see that you two had finally
realized your feelings for each other.   I was afraid you might wait until
it was too late, and I know how important it is to appreciate what you have
for as long as possible."  She sighed, remembering Haresh, and saw Jessie's
eyes fill with sympathetic tears.  "I want you and Hadji to enjoy each
other," she continued earnestly.  "I'm sure you will be very happy."
        "Thank you, Neela," said Jessie, hugging the older woman.  "I already am."
 She stepped away and held up the sari again, grinning.  "So you think
Hadji will like this one?"
        Neela laughed.

        Race and Hadji stood in Race's room, facing each other warily.  Hadji
cleared his throat nervously.
        "I think you must know what I wanted to talk to you about," he began.
        "I have an idea," Race said dryly.  I've got a bad feeling about this…
        "Then let me speak plainly," continued Hadji.  He took a deep breath. 
"I'm in love with Jessie, and I—we—would like to know that you do not
object to our being together."
        Race crossed his arms over his chest.  "Don't you think you're both a
little young for a serious relationship?"
        "Perhaps," answered Hadji.  "But you know that Jessie is remarkably
mature, and seventeen is not really so young.  As for myself, I hope that
the responsibilities of governing a state have given me the wisdom to make
mature decisions both for myself and about others.  I understand your
concern, but believe me, I would never want to push Jessie into a
relationship that neither of us was ready for."
         "I had a feeling that argument wouldn't work."  Race sighed.  "Look,
Hadji, I appreciate your being honest with me, but I still don't feel
comfortable with the situation.  It's nothin' personal—if this had to
happen I guess I'd rather it be with you than anyone else.  But I just
don't see why it had to happen so soon."
        "It wasn't exactly a matter of choice," said Hadji, smiling slightly. 
"But neither Jessie nor I regrets the change between us, and we certainly
can not go back to the way we were before.  We only want to make sure that
we do not cause anyone pain, especially you."
        "Thanks," said Race, and sighed again.  "Much as I hate to admit it, it
looks like I don't have much of a choice either.  You seem to make Jessie
happy, and I can't object to that."
        "Does that mean you approve?" asked Hadji hopefully.
        Race nodded.  "But let me make one thing clear."  He looked the young
sultan squarely in the eye.  "If you break her heart you will live to
regret it."
        Hadji didn't blink.  "Believe me, Race, that is the last thing in the
world I would ever want to do, and I swear I will do everything in my power
to make sure that no one else does either."
        Race saw the sincerity and determination in Hadji's eyes.  He really does
love her, he thought, recalling a sudden vivid memory of Hadji fighting
Jessie's kidnappers.  Despite all his protests, Race knew that Hadji was
the only person who would ever come close to being good enough for his
daughter.
        "Alright," said Race, softening, and held out his hand.
        Hadji shook it warmly.  "Thank you, Race."
        "You're welcome, I think," he said gruffly.  "Now get outta here before I
change my mind."  Race managed a smile.  "Besides, Jessie's waiting."

        Jessie was waiting for him when he left Race.  "Well?" she asked
breathlessly.  Hadji grinned.  "He approved!" cried Jessie, laughing with
relief as he twirled her around.  "Thank you, Hadji.  I know Dad probably
didn't make it easy for you."
        Hadji smiled.  "Actually, I think it went rather well.  He never even
threatened me with physical violence."
        Jessie giggled.  "Well I'd better make sure he doesn't change his mind."
        He nodded.  "And I'll go find Dr. Quest and Jonny."  He bent to kiss her
quickly.  "For luck," he said, winking, then turned and walked away in
search of the others.
        Jessie watched him go, waiting for her heart to return to its normal pace.
 Then she took a deep breath and knocked on her father's door.  "Dad?  It's
me."
        "Come in," Race called, standing to greet his daughter.  She was
practically glowing with happiness, and he couldn't help smiling back. 
"Hey, Ponchita."
        "Oh, Dad!" cried Jessie, running to hug him like she used to when she was
a little girl.  But now he could no longer pretend that she was still that
same girl.  Race sighed.
        Jessie looked up at him with shining eyes.  "I'm so happy!" she said
earnestly.  "But I need to know that you aren't upset about Hadji and me. 
I mean, I wanted to make sure that you really approve."
        Race smiled ruefully.  "I doubt there's anything I could do to keep you
two apart if I didn't."
        Jessie frowned.  "No, there isn't, but we'd be much happier if we had your
blessing."
        Race looked at her seriously.  "You do have my blessing, Jessie.  Even I
can see that you and Hadji have something very special."
        Jessie nodded, eyes sparkling.  "Hadji makes me feel…whole," she said,
then blushed at how silly that sounded.
        "I've been there," said Race softly, thinking of Estella.  "But Jessie,
please promise me one thing."
        "Anything."
        "Promise me that you will be careful.  I don't want either of you getting
hurt."
        "I will, Dad," Jessie assured him.  "Hadji and I promised each other that
we would take it slow.  We want to make sure that our relationship doesn't
change things too much."
        "Well then," said Race, only half jokingly, "I hope that means you won't
start ignoring your fuddy-duddy old dad."
        Jessie giggled at the idea of her father being a fuddy-duddy, but answered
him seriously.  "Of course not.  I love you, Dad."  She stood on tiptoe to
kiss his cheek.
        "I love you too, Ponchita."  Race held her tightly, his eyes growing
suspiciously moist.
        "Thank you for understanding," Jessie whispered, hugging him back.

        Hadji found Jonny in the garden, attempting to climb a tree to retrieve
Bandit's ball.
        I don't even want to know how that got up there, thought Hadji, smiling at
his friend's uncanny ability to get into difficult situations.
        "Can I help you, Jonny?" he offered.
        "Hey Hadj," Jonny grinned sheepishly.  "Could you give me a boost?"
        Ten minutes and only a few minor bruises later, both Jonny and the ball
were safely back on the ground.
        "Thanks, Hadji," said Jonny, watching Bandit run off with the rescued toy
before he and Hadji began walking back toward the palace.  "So what have
you been up to this morning?  Or should I say, you and Jessie?"  He winked.
        Hadji feigned innocence.  "Excuse me?"
        "C'mon, Hadj, you know what I'm talking about.  You, Jess, big
smoochies…."
        Hadji laughed.  "Thank you for putting it so elegantly, Jonny.  You seem
to be adjusting well to the change between Jessie and me."
        "Why shouldn't I be?" asked Jonny.  "You two were made for each other."
        "Well…" Hadji hesitated.  "I thought there was a time when you seemed to
like Jessie as…more than a friend."
        Jonny was surprised.  "You knew about that?"
        Hadji nodded.  "I am more observant than I might seem.  But I thought that
your feelings for Jessie had returned to just friendship.  I hope I was not
wrong."
        "No way," Jonny shook his head.  "I did have a crush on Jess for a little
while, but that was a long time ago.  I think I was going through a phase,
and she was the only girl I really knew."
        Hadji was relieved.  "So you don't still like her?"
        Jonny laughed.  "Not like that.  Besides, I wouldn't want a girlfriend who
could kick my butt in Questworld."
        Hadji grinned, unable to resist the opportunity.  "Then it seems you are
destined for eternal bachelorhood, my friend."
        Jonny laughed in spite of himself.  "I should have seen that one coming." 
He paused at the palace door, eyes gleaming wickedly.  "Well, I'm going to
wash up.  See you later, Romeo."
        "Jonny, I'm warning you--" said Hadji, following him inside.
        Jonny backed away down the hall towards his room.  "Okay, okay, I won't
tease you…Loverboy."
        "I mean it Jonny," said Hadji in a threatening tone, but the corners of
his mouth were twitching.
        "Give Jessie a kiss for me!" laughed Jonny, ducking into his room in time
to avoid Hadji's playful swat.
        "Well, Hadji, it looks like you've just discovered the downside to being
in love."  Dr. Quest stepped out of the hall where he had been observing
his sons with amusement.  "You can now expect to become the official target
for the wits of your nearest and dearest."
        "Dr. Quest!"  Hadji was a little embarrassed.  "I hope that you will be
one of my nearest and dearest who refrains from such liberties," he said
with a smile.
        Benton laughed.  "I promise not to tease you and Jessie, no matter how
sorely I might be tempted."
        "Thank you," said Hadji.  "But all joking aside, do you object at all to
my being with Jessie?"
        "My only objection would have been that Race might object, but since you
have apparently worked things out with him already, I can think of no
reason to be upset about the situation.  On the contrary, I am very proud
of the mature way you and Jessie have chosen to handle your relationship."
        "Thank you," said Hadji modestly.  "I'm glad to find that my family is as
happy about the change as I am."

        That evening the family went out to enjoy a night on the town, which they
hadn't been able to appreciate while Valsad was still a threat.  Hadji
thought Jessie looked stunning in the green sari Neela had given her, and
told her so, much to Jonny's amusement.  She thanked him for his compliment
with a kiss, but not even Race seemed to mind.  Soon they were all talking
and laughing like they always had, as if nothing had changed, or at least
as if things had only changed for the better.
        When they returned to the palace they all relaxed in the parlor, enjoying
each other's company.  Jessie challenged Race to a game of chess, on the
condition that he wouldn't whine if she won.  Dr. Quest sat down with his
book, while Jonny worked on a program for his laptop, occasionally asking
Jessie or his dad for pointers.  Hadji settled down to meditate, and Neela
worked on her sewing.
        "Checkmate!"  Jessie's voice brought Hadji back to reality, and he opened
his eyes to see the rest of the family laughing at Race and his daughter.  
   
        "Shootfire!"  Race exclaimed, but his eyes gleamed with pride in his
brilliant daughter.
        "What can I say?" Jessie grinned.  "I learned from the best."  She leaned
forward to give her dad a kiss.
        Race smiled.  "Apparently the best is extremely out of practice.  How
'bout a rematch tomorrow?"
        Dr. Quest looked at his friend and bodyguard.  "You must be a glutton for
punishment," he joked.
        "Thanks for you vote of confidence, Doc," said Race.  "What do you say,
Jess?"
        "Sure, Dad.  I'd be happy to beat you again tomorrow," she quipped.
        Race snorted.  "We'll see about that."
        Despite this humiliating loss, Race found himself in a surprisingly good
mood by the time everyone went to bed.  His fear of losing Jessie had been
dispelled by her and Hadji's efforts to keep things as normal as possible. 
And even though he wasn't entirely comfortable with the idea of his little
girl kissing a boy, he knew that Hadji could be trusted.  So when Hadji
left with Jessie to walk her to her room, Race felt nothing but happiness
for his daughter.

        "Well, I would say this has been a successful day," said Hadji, smiling at
Jessie as she walked by his side.
        "Definitely," she agreed.  "We must be getting good at this whole
relationship thing."  They came to a stop in front of her door.
        "And they say it only gets better," he said softly.
        Jessie giggled, looking up at him through her lashes.  "They also say
'practice makes perfect'."
        Hadji raised an eyebrow.  "So I've heard."  He pulled her into his arms. 
"Did I mention how beautiful you look tonight?"
        "Once or twice.  Did I thank you?"
        "I don't remember.  You should probably thank me again," he said,
grinning, "for practice…."  His voice trailed off as their lips met.
        After a moment Jessie's muffled laughter echoed through the hallway.  "I
could definitely get used to this."



FIN



        Hope you enjoyed this fic…it should clear up some things from "Besieged…."
  And don't forget to check out the illustration at Wendy's fantastic
Eraser Dust JQ Art Gallery!

(c) IRIS 1998