The young Jedi Sentinel soon fell asleep against the woman he loved.  His heart rate finally was starting to lower into a more peaceful rhythm, and further peace seemed to settle over the rest of the ship.  Even the Force was no longer blazing with their passion; though it continued to echo with what had taken place between them.  He felt her own body relax as she nuzzled against him, and it was not long before they were fast asleep in each others' arms.  How long passed for this beautiful moment; Thal-ion was not sure, but he slept such as he had never done before.  No dreams bothered him...not like the ones he normally had.  Instead, Alethea filled his thoughts, and he dreamed of nothing else...and no one else.  Dreams of walking with her, marrying her, having children with her...all of it, and he could not have been happier.  Within her arms warm and safe; all the rest of the galaxy fell away from his mind.  He was truly at peace - something he had wanted, but never really found on this level.<br/><br/>She stirred in his embrace, and it made him pull her gently closer before he felt her snuggle up against him again.  Some part of him realized the depth of what had just happened.  In this realization came the full knowledge that neither he nor Alethea were innocent anymore.  They now knew what passion was, and had experienced it deeply with one another.  Sex was something they had now completely had, and not just sex...intimacy of the deepest levels.  It was not something to dismiss, and what had transpired now swept through the sleeping Sentinel.  Even now, while coming awake, he could feel her presence without even trying to reach for the Force.  She was there now...a part of him, and he had no doubt the same was true in reverse.  Slowly, his eyes came open to gaze upon Alethea, and reached over to play with her hair as they remained entangled from the lovemaking.  There was a sense that morning had now come upon them - mid-morning, no less, but that mattered not to Thal-ion.  If they had been needed, Qui-gon or Obi-wan would have messaged them.  Since that had not taken place - the young Sentinel was not worried about how long they had slept.  Indeed, he was not worried about anything; for he was simply enjoying Alethea's presence and warmth.<br/><br/>"Good morning, Precious," he whispered against her neck affectionately with a soft kiss.  He did not say anything more; for there was nothing more to say at the moment.  Though the after effects still lingered in the Force; Thal-ion had no further desire to enjoy her charms again...not immediately, at least.  Instead, he reached up and lightly kissed her brow in blessing and love.  Only then, did her companion speak again, "It being mid-morning; we should likely prepare for the challenges to come.  I confess, though...I have no desire to move from your warmth."<br/><br/>Wonder was still in his eyes every bit as powerful as it had been while they had been making love.  With a soft sigh, he buried his face against her neck softly, and smiled a with true sincere affection for her...pulling her slightly closer as he did.<br/><br/>"I have never dreamed I would ever have such a moment, nor find a companion such as you.  I never dreamed of falling in love, Alethea, but I am truly and deeply in love with you," he confessed tenderly.  With such words; Thal-ion blushed deeply, but he did not mind showing the glow in his normally pale cheeks.  After all, she was glowing as well.  He did not wish to return to the challenges ahead, but to not do so was to spell disaster.  The Force had brought them together at this point in Time, and here it was they would help to stop the madness and chaos that was to come later.  Even as he thought this - the Force suddenly seemed to nudge him.  It was the nudge of need, and Thal-ion knew it was time to be ready.  They were still Jedi Knights, and they still had a job to do.  "Together, we shall stop this madness," Thal-ion told her as his way of reminding her what they had ahead of them.