Title: Monochrome Shattered

Author: Seylin and Aubreys-Master

Rating: R/NC-17

Summary: Anakin’s black and white world of the Jedi way has been stripped away by Palpatine’s corruption. After the battle on Mustafar, Obi-Wan and Yoda are determined to get it back for him. But, with Padmé gone, will Anakin be willing to hear them out at all? The Jedi will need help, if they plan to save their Chosen One, and Senator Amidala has left them with exactly the help they need…

The fight had been against him from the beginning, and Anakin Skywalker knew it. Arguably, he was the most powerful Jedi alive. But, in all honesty, he'd known, on some level, that he'd never be able defeat his master. He'd never admit that, though. Like Hell it was over...higher ground or not, he just stood there on the piece of scrap metal, sweating, breathing heavily, and glaring furiously at the man who had all but raised him.
"You underestimate my power," he informed Obi-Wan Kenobi, before performing a rather tricky front flip. Tricky because it was impossible to precisely aim where you were going to land.
Now, the original plan had been to catch Obi-Wan off guard, and attack him from above, while he was distracted. He just didn't plan on Obi-Wan not getting distracted. He didn't plan on that at all. And, all in all, that was the reason he lost. Obi-Wan might have underestimated him, but he in turn had underestimated Obi-Wan.
It took only one fell swoop of the Jedi Master's light saber to send him crashing back down to the ashen ground, now without both his legs and his remaining arm, and crying out in hurt groans of agony. He hadn't forgotten how much it hurt to lose a limb to a light saber, from his first duel with Count Dooku. He'd just never known how much more it hurt to lose three.
Obi Wan stared down at Anakin's slipping form sadly, his own breath coming out in heavy pants.
"I loved you Anakin!" He cried taking a step forward.
His gloved hand grappled desperately with the soft ground, trying to inch back up, or at the very least not fall down further. He didn't say anything, he couldn't. The best he could do verbally, at the moment, was those pained groans that kept insisting on tearing themselves from his throat. He could feel the heat of the lava creeping up toward him, and he didn't plan to let it claim him. But, he also wasn't paying much attention to it, either. His very soul was currently waging a war with the dark side, over the control of his consciousness. This might be his only chance to apologize...to atone...to do anything! To save Padmé! To save himself! But...he had to make his throat work, make his voice say what he wanted it to, before he could do any of that.
His master continued to stare at him, his own emotional war was fighting inside him. Part of him wanting to save Anakin... but the other said to leave him there after what he had done.
Anakin slipped further and let out another groan. The lava was just inches away now. He saw the fumes trying to catch onto what was left of his clothes ready to catch him on fire. With a cry Obi Wan rushed forward and grabbed Anakin's gloved hand tightly, his other hand taking hold above the glove so it wouldn't slip off which would cause him to really slip then.
Anakin's eyes met his in disbelief. Still stained gold and red by the dark side, they flickered with something else. Not quite remorseful tears, possibly just irritation from the ashes being flicked up into them. Still, his lips, shining with sweat parted just barely. The word came out muffled, barely understandable, behind teeth clenched from fury and pain, and around frothy saliva. Despite all this, despite how unclear, they both knew what he said.
"Master." Obi Wan smiled slightly and began pulling him up.
"I will not let you fall."
Bringing him far enough away from the fires he turned him over and then scooped him up in his arms. Without another word he started back for Padmé's ship.
Anakin didn't say anything else to him, his eyes screwed shut, until they got back there. The Force was telling him something very important, and his eyes snapped open again. No less golden, no less tainted, but now they definitely held something beyond malice.
"Padmé." This time it came out much more clearly. "W...where's...Padmé, Master?" He remembered what he'd done to her...but he could feel her alive, somewhere on this ship.
"Resting. I will take care of both of you, get some rest while we return to Coruscant," his master told him.
C-3PO came up and started fussing over him while Obi Wan went to the controls to get them out of this horrible place.
"Master Anakin, just look at you!" The droid totted the half conscious young man. Well, half conscious, but still awake enough to spit out one grumpy order.
"Threepio, shut up." The droid would have looked a bit hurt, if he'd had facial expressions. But, as it was, he just made a noise suspiciously similar to a 'hmph', and wondered off, to assembly go find Padmé and check on her.
~Back on Coruscant~
Obi Wan landed as carefully as he could. As soon as he opened the door he was met with a group of people.
"Someone help me. Take Miss Padmé to the medical rooms," he ordered and then went back in and carefully picked up Anakin and brought him out. There were gasps of horror and surprise at his condition but everyone became quiet at the look Obi Wan gave them.
Padmé was going to be ashamed of him, Anakin was sure. Maybe even frightened. First, he'd murdered, then he'd let himself be manipulated, he'd murdered more, he'd make her cry, rebelled against his master, and superior, and then let this happen to him. Yep...seemed pretty worthy of being ashamed of, to him. He was surprised if anyone would ever speak to him again...and the Chancellor...what was he going to do about the Chancellor?
Obi Wan turned him over slowly to the medical droids and then went to check on Padmé.
"Physically she is fine but for some reason we seem to be losing her," the medical droid explained as he walked up.
"She's dying? What of the child?" He questioned sadly.
The droid nodded to confirm this. "We have two options. We can let the children die along with her or we can take them now."
"Children?"
"Yes, Sir. There are two." Obi Wan lowered his eyes and then asked for permission to enter the room to be with her. It was given and he entered the room coming up beside the bed taking one of her hands in his.
"Obi Wan... Anakin... is he okay?" Padmé questioned softly. He brushed some of her hair back and smiled softly.
"He will be," he answered.
"You must help him. There is still good in him I know it," she whispered and he nodded agreeing with her.
"Padmé... you are dying. They want to know about the children," he told her.
"They are innocents and should live." He nodded and looked up telling the droid her decision. “You will take care of them Obi Wan. Anakin will need help.”

“I promise you Padmé. I will help him in any way possible,” he promised.
The babies were born, a boy and a girl (named Luke and Leia, by their mother.) The medical droids took them off, to get them cleaned up. But...a true Jedi Master never rests, and in this case it was literal. Outside the medical room, with Senator Organa, stood Yoda, leaning wearily on his cane, and waiting for Obi-Wan to come back out. Of course, he waited until she actually died. The little green Jedi Master was silent for several minutes as they waited for Obi Wan to return.
"In poor condition, young Skywalker is now," he noted finally. Obi Wan emerged from the room after covered Padmé's head with the sheet.
"He's going to need much healing," he agreed quietly.

"And not just physically," Yoda noted, with a small nod. "Mental recovery, also he needs."
"How will we go about this Master? And what of the children?" Obi Wan questioned.
"Unfit to raise them, he is right now," Yoda decided thoughtfully. "And, no replacement limbs, with which to run away, until better he is." That didn't seem unreasonable. All the therapy in the world wouldn't help, if Anakin ran away from them...
"My wife and I shall take the baby girl. We have often talked of adopting a baby girl... but what of the boy?" Senator Organa replied. It was quiet between them. After so much death and destruction very few would be willing to accept the child.
"Master Obi Wan should care for the child." Came a new voice. Obi Wan's eyes widened his heart thudding heavily in his chest. Turning he faced the new Queen of Naboo, she looked back at him patiently.
"But I... I couldn't..." he disagreed. Any other time he would have been more than happy to take the child but... he knew sooner or later they would ask him to train the child and well... look at what had happened to his last padawan.
"It is the best decision," she told him.
"I will not have time... I will have to help with Anakin and..."
"All the more reason. This child may prove to bring some calm back to his troubled mind. If you turn it over to someone else you may never see it again. Then Anakin will have lost three he loves in one day, two without even being able to see them," she explained.
"A good point she makes," Yoda pointed out. "Sorrow is a path to the dark side, Obi-Wan. Make more difficult his recovery it will."
"If this is what is wished of me then I will agree but... Senator Organa, you will allow Anakin to see his daughter before taking her won't you?" He questioned.
"Of course." The Senator nodded. "But...under observation, of course." A Jedi Knight in the grasp of the dark side was not something to be trifled with. Obi Wan nodded.
"Shall we go get them and go see him so you can get on your way?" He asked.
"That would be lovely, General Kenobi," he confirmed, smiling slightly. He pitied Anakin, for getting caught up, in this mess. The least he could do was allow the boy a chance to see his child, before she was taken from him.
"Master Yoda, will you accompany us?" Obi Wan looked down at the tired master unsure of the answer.
"Personal, this matter is." Yoda shook his head this time, declining. "Business of my own I have. Later see him, I shall." Obi Wan bowed to him and then turned to the Senator.
"Let us go then," he said. Senator Organa nodded, and entered the room that Padmé was in, explaining the situation to the droid. It nodded, and disappeared for a moment, returning with a squirming, pink baby, wrapped up in a soft blanket.
"Now, we shall go," the dark haired man confirmed, upon exiting the room again, carrying Leia with him. Another droid brought a blue bundle to Obi Wan but he shook his head.
"I shall return for the child later. At this point and time one child is all I think Anakin can handle," he told it. The droid nodded and took the baby back to where they had been keeping it. After the droid was gone he joined Senator Organa, who was smiling down at the baby girl. "She already looks like her mother."
"Senator Amidala would have been very proud," Bail Organa agreed. "I'm sure Anakin will be, too." Obi Wan nodded as they walked down to the room the medical droids had put Anakin in. They came to a stop outside of the window that looked into the room.
Obi Wan couldn't look long before looking down at his feet. His heart constricted in pain at seeing his padawan this way. Swallowing, he looked at Senator Organa.
"Maybe I should be the one to take the child in... he may not want to even see me but I doubt he would want to see anyone else."
"Very well." He nodded, and handed the little girl over to the Jedi Master.
Inside the room, Anakin laid on the bed, tapping the side impatiently with his prosthetic-and remaining-fingers. He was more than a little annoyed about this. Even more so that it had been a Jedi to take his remaining limbs away from him. Losing body parts to an enemy was one thing. Yes, it was embarrassing, but it could be lived down. Losing them to a comrade put it on a whole other level of humiliation. True, Obi-Wan had been his enemy at the time, but he doubted any other Jedi who happened to still be alive would see it that way. Any warrior in general, actually.
The door slid open and Obi Wan stepped in, the door sliding closed behind him.
"Anakin," he said quietly. Leia made a small noise in his arms. Those dark poisoned eyes slid over from the ceiling to his master's face, and he blinked expectantly. He didn't say anything, though. As much as he was annoyed with himself, he was feeling that irritation tenfold at Obi-Wan. He was sure he'd get over it, but he wasn't over it yet.
"I have brought your daughter, Leia, for you to see before her new family takes her. Until you are healed you will not see her again," he told him coming closer.
"My..." Anakin started to echo, but then he stopped again. Instead, he put his energy into trying to sit up one handed. It wasn't too hard, of course, but it wasn't simple, either. Once he was up, he shifted his position slightly, so that the pillow was completely unoccupied. She looked small enough to rest there. "Put her down here." He nodded toward the pillow. He wasn't going to risk dropping her, by trying to hold her, right now.
"I cannot Anakin. Her new father entrusted me with her safety and I will not go against his wishes... although I firmly believe in my heart you would not hurt her," Obi Wan said sitting on an open space of the bed. He shifted Leia in his arms so that she was facing Anakin and he gently pulled the blanket away from her face.
"What do you mean her 'new father'?" Anakin frowned, even as he reached over to gently stroke his daughter's face. She looked so much like Padmé already...wait a minute..."Where's Padmé?" Obi Wan lowered his eyes sadly.
"She didn't make it... because of your actions the council sees it fit that you go through a very difficult amount of healing. While that is happening someone needs to take care of your daughter. A very nice man and his wife have agreed to take her in," he explained. Obi Wan wanted to mention Luke but dared not as he knew this was already a lot for Anakin to take in.
Anakin's eyes tore away from Leia, and met Obi-Wan's in unhidden horror.
"What?" Padmé...couldn't have been gone...he'd felt her on that ship! Besides, all of this...all of this he'd done for her! Everything! She couldn't leave him, after he'd done so much to save her!
"I'm sorry Anakin. We did everything we could to save her," Obi Wan answered quietly.
"Liar..." He hissed, turning away. Anger bubbled within him, rising the dark that Leia's presence had somewhat subsided back to it's full peek. He looked very much like he might have shoved Obi-Wan off the bed, had he not been holding his baby, at the time. "You lair! She can't be gone! She can’t be!"
Obi Wan stood covering Leia's face once again. He looked back at Anakin for a moment.
"As I said. I am sorry. You may want to calm down, say goodbye and kiss your daughter before she is taken."
"You can't take her from me," Anakin protested, shaking his head furiously. "You're not my master anymore, Obi-Wan. I don't owe you anything. You can't take her unless I say so." Palpatine would never allow it, if he got too annoyed and decided to run to him over it. Well...not literally run, but if Obi-Wan pushed him too far, the Chancellor would find out.
"Padmé said that there was good left in you before she... do what you know is right Anakin. You are in no shape to take care of her. After you're healing I will make sure you are allowed to see her again. Listen to your heart, the heart that Padmé fell in love with."
"She's Padmé’s baby," he pointed out. "My baby. You already took Padmé from me..." He knew that Obi-Wan was correct, of course. But, the darkness that murder and the ways of the Sith had placed in him wouldn't allow him to admit it without at least somewhat a fight. "You're going to take my child away too?"
"You know I do not do this lightly Anakin. It is for the best. I promised Padmé I would help you," Obi Wan replied.
"Liar..." He muttered again, he did want to give his baby a kiss before she left, if Obi-Wan was going to take her anyway. "It's your fault I'm like this anyway."
"I know." Was the reply, it was not the one he was expecting.
"And yet, you still say you don't do this lightly?" He glared at him darkly. "Some Jedi you are. You're a bigger liar than I am..."
"Were you able to take care of her Anakin I would protest against this but you are not. I must go, do you want to say goodbye or not?" Obi Wan questioned.
"Yes," he replied quite simply. "And, I want to be at Padmé's funeral." If he hadn't been able to tell her goodbye when she'd died...hadn't been able to be there for her...didn't he owe her at least that? Obi Wan stepped closer and uncovered Leia's face once again.
"I will see what I can do." Anakin didn't thank him, but his expression softened before Leia's small face, and the yellow of his irises seemed to give way to a bit of their former green, before a moment. He gave his baby girl as tender a kiss as a Sith lord could, petting her little, bald head again, gently, before pulling back, and flopping sulkily back down to stare at the ceiling once more. Leia then did what Obi Wan felt like doing. She started to cry.
He turned away and the door slid open and he started to step out.
"Obi-Wan!" Anakin called after him, before he could get completely out of the room. "I did it for her. Everything I did was to save her." The door slid closed before he could answer.
~*~

Obi Wan turned to Senator Organa.
"Take good care of her Senator. I told Anakin if he were completely healed he would get to see her again. Under supervision of course."
"Of course," Organa agreed, taking the little girl back. His wife was going to love this baby to death, he knew.
"Good day Senator," Obi Wan told him before leaving. He returned to the room where Padmé had died. The droid beeped in greeting knowing why he had returned.
"Only to see him." The droid nodded and disappeared to get the baby. It brought Luke back and gently handed him to Obi Wan. Luke opened his eyes and Obi Wan was met with the deepest green eyes he had ever seen, he had Anakin's eyes.
Unable to hold it back anymore he sank into a chair and let his tears fall.
~*~

Anakin got to lay in that room, and brood in his mourning for several hours, before Yoda bothered to show up. In all honesty, he'd rather have been alone...he'd killed so many of this Master's Padawans...even with the dark side eating at his heart, he still felt a bit guilty over it.
"Grief must be dismissed for you to heal it does," Yoda said.
"No." He'd thrown his Jedi ties away, when he'd attacked the temple. He felt no fear from telling Yoda that. "You can't ask me to do that yet."
"Ask I can, to do is up to you."
"Master, I've known for all of three hours," he stated dryly, turning his eyes to face the green alien. "And, after everything I did to save her...don't I deserve a little more time than that?"
"Goodbyes must be said. Gone she be before grieving you stop, you will miss this as well?" Master Yoda questioned.
"Isn't that what funerals are for?" He wondered. "To say goodbye and mourn for those you love?" He had no trouble saying that now. None at all. What could Yoda do? Kick him out of the Order?
"Go you do?" If Anakin truly wished to go Yoda had come prepared. He had brought two medical droids and two loyal guards to escort them. There was not a way to actually allow Anakin to go to the funeral but he could watch from a room above where it would be held.
"Of course I want to go!" Had Obi-Wan conveniently neglected to mention that part?
"Spoken with Obi Wan I have not. Disappeared it seems he has."
"Coward," the former Jedi Knight grumbled under his breath, turning a cool glare to the bed below him. "Bet he's helping those 'nice' people take my baby away..." But, he wasn't bitter at all. Yoda watched him through his wise eyes. He knew where Obi Wan was, had Anakin wanted he could have probably felt his sorrow.
Turning he brought the medical droids in. They moved Anakin into a floating chair, strapping him in by his waist and strapping his one arm to the handle. This earned little more than a growl, and half hearted tug at the restraints from him. This wasn’t a good way to get him to calm down, and he hoped Yoda knew it.
"For your protection this is," Master Yoda told him.
"How do you figure that, master?"
"The waist belt is so you will not fall and the arm is so you will not try to undo the waist belt and fall," one droid replied.
"Angry are many for what you did. Guards loyal to the Force protect us they shall from them," Yoda answered.
"I did it to save Padmé," he repeated what he'd told Obi-Wan shortly. It was the only justification he had. Well, that and the Jedi turning against the Republic. But, he wasn't sure who to believe on that level, anymore.
"Saves no one the dark side does."
"Not what I heard." He shrugged. "I heard there was a Sith lord who mastered the manipulation of existence itself. Who could save people from dying." Which was what he'd hoped, and failed, to do for Padmé.
"Task you speak of requires sacrifice it does. Very painful for both."
"It might have saved her though. If I'd been there...been strong enough...I might have been able to save her..." The self loathing in his tone had nothing to do with the dark side. That was all Anakin Skywalker, feeling horrible about just letting his wife die. Yoda said nothing for once.
"Come ceremony begins soon it does."
"Yes, Master Yoda." Not that he had much control over it, of course. The medical droids pushed the chair he was in forward, while the guards flanked him on either side. Indeed, he did see many angered faces, as they passed through the halls and streets, to get to the room where he could see. They were all feeling highly disappointed and betrayed that their beloved hero had fallen.
~*~
Obi Wan sat listening to the music play as they moved Padmé's body to her final resting place. Luke had fallen asleep in his arms. The chair he had sat in was one that rocked, his foot moved gently against the floor.
"And so she leaves, your mother, little Luke Skywalker." He closed his eyes lowering his head paying his respects.

Anakin swallowed harshly, as the funeral procession moved slowly toward the tower he was in. There was Padmé...and Jar Jar, the current Queen of Naboo, and so many others...all there to mourn a woman that he would miss most of all. Despite all he tried to do to stop it...despite the darkness clogging his heart, his mechanical hand clenched against the arm rest, as did his stomach muscles.

He made the Force move him closer still to the window, and felt a single, hot tear drip down his cheek, as he watched the love of his life move past in her bed with all it's flowers...he couldn't believe that after all he'd done for her, he still hadn't been able to save her...after all he'd tried to protect her from his nightmares, from his visions, she was still gone...
The music slowly came to an end and the people dispersed wiping their tears away. Yoda stayed quiet behind Anakin waiting patiently.
He'd have to make him move eventually, though, because Anakin didn't plan to do so on his own anytime soon. Not to go back to a hospital bed, anyway. No, if he was going to leave this room, where he could see Padmé's burial site, it would only be to go home. Yoda nodded to the droids a few moments later. One came up behind Anakin and pulled him away from the window.
"Healing tomorrow you being," Yoda stated as they headed back to his room. Anakin didn't respond at all, to that bit of information. He just stared numbly down at the wet spots on his pants, where his increasingly rapidly falling tears were landing. He couldn't remember ever letting anyone see him like this before...not even Padmé, or Obi-Wan, or Palpatine. Even in front of R2-D2, or C-3P0 he'd never let himself go to quite this extent. Maybe with his mother...but not that he could remember. He didn't care now, though. This was different. This was the end of an era. The end of Padmé...the end of the relationship he'd treasured so much with her...
The droids returned him to his bed, trying to make him as comfortable as possible. After they were finished they turned to leave.
"The baby Leia was taken but what will happen to the boy?" One questioned the other not truly realizing what it was saying in front of Anakin.
"Baby Luke will be taken care of by Master Obi Wan Kenobi," the other replied as they left the room. Yoda left the guards posted by the doors should anyone try anything.
"What are you talking about?" Anakin demanded of them. "Who's 'baby Luke'?" He was only met with silence as they had already left, the door slid closed.
Well...fine. He'd just ask Yoda, or Obi-Wan, next time one of them came. That would settle that. Stupid droids...thinking they could keep something from him. He wasn't stupid, even if he had made a few mistakes.
~*~

Obi Wan turned the child back over to the droids care. He went and spoke with Yoda before heading home for a few hours rest. Tomorrow the real work would begin. Work was one way of putting it. Slavery seemed more accurate. Especially since Anakin seemed a bit hell-bent against accepting their help...
Yoda went to see Anakin in the morning while Obi Wan went to help restore the city, mainly the temple since it had been burned.
~*~

"Remind me why this is such a big deal." The dark side in him hadn't subsided at all since the day before. Far from it, if anything, Padmé's funeral had made him more bitter, and made it grow.
"Good there still is in you, believe that many do," Yoda answered.
"That doesn't answer my question," he pointed out. "At all. I didn't ask if there was good in me or not, I asked why you're trying so hard to find it."
"Asked of us it was," the old master replied.
"By whom?" He felt these things were his right to know. After all he'd done, he really didn't deserve to be healed...who could possibly care about him enough, to try so hard to make sure he was?
"One who loved you dearly did. As one's who still love you do wish."
"And, yet, you're still not giving me names." He was a Sith Lord! He was a murderer! He'd been a murderer since that Tusken camp. Then again with Dooku, and then all those kills that Palpatine had sent him on. Why wasn't anyone grasping this? He wasn't worthy of entering the light of the Force again!
"Know you not who loved you so dearly?" The old alien asked surprised.
"Only Padmé." He shook his head a little. "But, I doubt she did, by the end."
"Wrong you are. Last wish of hers it was."
"But...I made her CRY..." He protested, shaking his head a little. "How could she still love me, after that?"
"Taken not was her love. Broke her heart you did but not her love." Anakin wasn't entirely sure he believed Yoda...but, the old man wasn't going to give up. So, whatever. If he wanted to fight a losing battle over a lie, that was his problem.
Yoda closed his eyes in concentration and started to wield Anakin's mind to sleep so he could start the healing.
"Master," he spoke up, before Yoda had a chance to do to much. "Who's Luke?" Yoda opened his eyes and looked at him.
"Place not mine to tell, ask his caretaker you shall," he answered and increased the force to make him sleep. He smiled when he felt Anakin's mind fell into slumber.
Well...that was great. Now he really did have to see Obi-Wan again...damnit...he'd wanted to stay annoyed, and avoid him too!
~5 hours later~
Obi Wan came to relieve Yoda from his work. The old master would be taking care of the healing while it would be his job to answer any questions Anakin had. It was time he knew the truth.
The entire truth, starting with the first question he asked, as soon as he was awake enough to be able to recognize, through the Force, who was in the room with him. He didn't plan to look.
"Who's Luke?"
"Are you sure you are ready to know?" Obi Wan questioned sitting in the chair Yoda had left.
"Why wouldn't I be ready?" What was with this? He wasn't going to start crying, over whatever Obi-Wan told him. Probably...
"He is Luke Skywalker... your son."
"I thought I had a daughter?" Finally, he spared Obi-Wan a frown.
"You do, Leia. But you also have a son, who has been entrusted to my care. They are twins," he told him.
"Twins?" He blinked, and sat up quickly, turning to stare at him. "I have twins, and you just forgot to mention it?"
"I did not forget. It would be very hard to do. You had enough to deal with yesterday," Obi Wan replied.
"You're not giving him away too, are you?"
"'Who has been entrusted to my care,'" he repeated.
"I can't tell with you." He raised an eyebrow. "Why are other people intrusting the care of my children to other people without my consent?"
"Yesterday when it was asked you were in no shape to much such a decision. I promised Padmé I would watch over them and I shall hold to that promise."
"I'm in no different shape now, Obi-Wan."
"You are calmer and thinking more logical today," the other told him.
"Or, that's what I you to think." Treachery was the way of the Sith, after all. What made Obi-Wan think he could get over all he'd done, all he'd learned, over night?
"It does not change how your mind feels to my senses." Anakin fell silent, and stared at the ceiling again, for some time, before he just sighed. Maybe he was feeling calmer...He didn't have any uncontrollable desire to smack anyone today...
"I'm a murderer, Obi-Wan," he stated, in an oddly finalized tone, for someone so deeply immersed in the dark side. "You and Yoda can't change that. Why do you keep trying?"
"Because those things can be forgiven by others. It may take much time but someday you will be forgiven. What we are trying to help you do is forgive yourself," Obi Wan replied.
"I. Can't," he stated stubbornly. "I killed children. And for what? I couldn't save Padmé, no matter how hard I tried!" So, in a way, he'd killed her too.
"Maybe in time you will. Is there anything else you would like to ask?"
"No." He turned his gaze back to a particularly boring ceiling tile. "Wait...yes. When can I go home?"
"I don't see that happening anytime soon. But when you are allowed to leave you will be coming with me. Master Yoda, in his wisdom, has put you under my care," Obi Wan answered, he still half resented Yoda for doing that but he also understood his reasons.
"So, you're telling me I can't go home," he translated dryly. "I'm not your padawan anymore, Obi-Wan. Get over it. I'm not a child."
"Not until your healed," Obi Wan said.
"That'd go a lot faster if you'd...I don't know, let the droids do their job, and give me prosthetics?" It would take forever for his burned stumps of limbs to heal over…he wanted to go home!
"It was not my decision. Master Yoda thought it would be better to begin healing you mind first."
"And I need to be lacking legs and an arm to do that because...?"
"He doesn't want you to try and run away I guess, he hasn't even shared his reasons with me." Obi Wan shrugged.
"Well, great." He shifted uncomfortably on the bed, trying to get the saber-burned areas of his skin off of the sheets. "I'm not the padawan you trained," he stated, after several minutes of this squirming. "And, that's not just me trying to be grown up. I've changed, and you know it's true."
"I do but why you are telling me this I do not."
"Because you're trying to fix me." He'd thought that was fairly obvious. "And, I don't think you can."
"It doesn't hurt to try. Now, if you don't have anymore questions I must go and see Luke," Obi Wan said standing.
"Fine." He just shrugged, and rolled over, taking a turn staring at the wall, instead of the ceiling.
"I will see you tomorrow Anakin." Obi Wan went to the door and looked back at him for a moment before leaving.
Once again, he got no farewell. But, despite all the anger and confusion still coursing through him, all the darkness that he was doing nothing to help dispel, his eyes seemed to have lost a bit more of that hard, yellow glare. He still thought Obi-Wan and Yoda were trying in vain, though. They couldn't bring back the people he'd slaughtered--Jedi, Tusken, Separatist, or anything else. They couldn't bring Padmé back...They couldn't undo anything he'd done. Even a Sith has guilt, and Anakin was currently drowning in it. Anyone within a thirty food radius, who had any ability with the Force at all would be able to feel it, too.
In his crib Luke cried, as much as anyone tried to get him to stop he wouldn't.
~*~

The next day, Anakin had a new question for Obi-Wan to answer. Well, more of a request, than a question. Almost an order.
"Can I meet him?"
"Do you feel you are ready enough to meet him?" Obi Wan questioned not needing to ask who he meant as he knew it was Luke.
"No." He shook his head matter of factly. "But, I want to anyway."
"Then no you may not," Obi Wan answered. Anakin took a deep breath, and with a huge blow to his pride, he asked,
"Please? I...really owe him an apology."
"When you are ready you may meet your son but not until then," Obi Wan told him.
"It's my fault his mother and sister are gone." He pointed out, biting his lip lightly. "Doesn't he deserve for me to at least apologize to him?"
"He does," Obi Wan agreed. "But not until you are ready."
"Uh huh." He rolled his eyes. Yeah, that was really likely. Luke was as much Padmé's son, as he was his. And, Anakin knew that every time he looked at him, he would only think of her.
~*~

For the next two months that was the way things went. Yoda would come and perform his healing for five hours and then Obi Wan would come to answer any questions he had. Each time Anakin asked Obi Wan if he could see his son and each time Obi Wan asked if he were ready. After each day of being told 'no' he decided to say 'yes' the next day even if he didn't mean it, but then the next day would come and he would once again say 'no'.
Obi Wan had moved into a larger spaced home, this one had three bedrooms. One for himself, Luke's nursery and once he came, Anakin's room, none of which had doors though. A month after his birth Obi Wan had been allowed to take Luke home. He found himself growing attached to the baby, he lifted his spirits everyday after he went to see Anakin.
And, he needed his spirits lifted, considering, yes, Anakin was still being a sulky, angsty brat about the whole thing. He felt rather justified, but that was still how it was. And, that was how it continued to be, until finally, one day, almost four months later, Anakin decided to change his tune. He knew he'd be lying through his teeth, but he still felt the need to see his son, so, when his former teacher came that day, he actually glanced over at him, and murmured out three words.
~*~

"I'm ready, Obi-Wan." It was blatantly incorrect, of course. He was neither physically, nor emotionally, nor mentally prepared to meet his son. But, he was going to anyway. And, why was he going to do this? Not for himself, not for Obi-Wan, or Yoda, or even Luke. He was doing this because he didn't want to give Padmé anything else to be ashamed with him over. And, he knew that running away from a problem would be at the top of her list.
Obi Wan stared at him for a moment and Anakin could feel him probing gently at the outer reaches of his mind. After a few moments he stopped and looked into Anakin's eyes.
"Alright, but if you change your mind before I actually bring him in you will tell me, understood?"
"Yes." He almost said 'yes, Master', but he stopped himself. Obi-Wan Kenobi wasn't his master. Obi-Wan was a Jedi, and Anakin knew full well that he could never be a Jedi Knight again, even if the order was re-established. Palpatine wasn't his master either, anymore. He'd left him to die, and he knew that the old man had known. Anakin Skywalker, as far as he was concerned, served no master. He served liberty, and the policies he followed. No one else. So, it would take an awful lot for him to ever call Obi-Wan 'Master' again. Obi Wan nodded.
"I will be back later then," he said.
"Alright," he agreed. He wondered if his eyes were still yellow (which they were), would that scare his son? He'd seen them only once like that, reflected in the side of a shiny building. But, he'd seen them on Palpatine as well. They were the eyes of those tainted by the dark side. Evil, and gold and red. Blood thirsty eyes. Would his son be able to feel the Force? Feel the darkness within him? Anxieties swirled around helplessly in his head, as he waited for Obi-Wan to return with his little boy. Padmé’s little boy...

~2 hours later~
Obi Wan returned, Luke curled into his chest with his head laying on his shoulder asleep. The little boy looked just like his father, same golden blonde hair, green eyes, even his personality reminded Obi Wan of Anakin. Luke could be loud and hyper but then at other times he was quiet and content, it was those times that he was reminded of Padmé.
When he sensed Obi-Wan coming closer, Anakin sat up. He sensed someone else too. It felt similar to Padmé, but it was different enough to definitely not be her at the same time. As soon as he saw him, even sleeping, Anakin knew that this child was a Skywalker.
"That's him?" He wondered softly, even though he really didn't need to. Obi Wan nodded and sat in the chair that seemed to be permentitly placed in Anakin's hospital room. He brought the child down and gently turned him so he was reclining in the crook of his arm.
Luke made a little noise of compliant as he slowly woke up. Obi Wan smiled down at him and Luke smiled back giggling. Luke's eyes shifted to the other person in the room who's eyes were on him. Pulling on Obi Wan's tunic he sat up in his lap and stared at Anakin.
"Luke?" Anakin was careful to keep his tone as empty as he could. He didn't want to see too exuberant, and frighten him. His motor skills were fabulous, and Anakin could sense the Force strong within him. He would have made a fine Jedi one day, if he hadn't killed off all but two of the whole damn Order...
Luke continued to stare at him before reaching his hands out.
"Ah! Ah!" Luke exclaimed reaching for him. Obi Wan looked at him to see his reaction.
"I can't hold him," Anakin murmured, as though realizing it himself, for the first time, as much as explaining to Obi-Wan, as he nodded down at his mostly stumpy form. But, then he turned his attention back to the little blonde that he'd helped create. "Luke...it...it's...daddy..." The word seemed foreign on his tongue, and it tasted strange to say it. He never had before. He doubted he would have, even if he had known his father. It just wasn't in his nature to be so...cutesy.
"AH! AH!" Luke cried more loudly.
"Doesn't seem he wants to take no for an answer, much like his father," Obi Wan chuckled. He stood and came closer. "You can hold him Anakin, we must be careful though." Obi Wan reached up and pulled down two extra pillows, he placed one under each of Anakin's arms. "Cup your good arm, like this," Obi Wan instructed showing him the way he had his.
Anakin obeyed tentatively, and before either of them knew it, Luke Skywalker was held as carefully as his father could.
"The Force is so powerful in him..." Anakin noted, almost idly, as he embraced his son with unfeeling steel. "He would have made a wonderful Jedi." Half of him wished he hadn't slaughtered the Order. Saving people was what he was built to do, as Padmé had told him on more than one occasion. But, the other half reminded him that he had done it so he could save someone: Padmé herself.
"It is," Obi Wan agreed. He sat on the other side of Anakin a bottle in hand. "Are you hungry little lightling?"
"Gooogah!" Obi Wan looked at Anakin for a moment.
"That my friend, means yes." He held the bottle at an angle feeding Luke while Anakin held him. Once Luke was fed, Anakin held him, and pondered something for a moment, before turning to the Jedi Master, with an almost meaningful look.
"Obi-Wan, can I have a moment alone with him?" Obi Wan studied him.
"Why?"
"I'd like to talk to him?" The supposedly chosen one offered with a shrug. "And, I don't want you to hear. You don't have to worry, I don't plan to...convert him, or anything." No, Anakin didn't plan to drag his legacy down to his murderous level.
"I never thought you would, I have just become rather attached to him, you should see me. I drive the nurse I hired for him for when I am not there crazy." He smiled. "Let me burp and change him and I will give you ten minutes but I will be right outside alright?"
"Fine," he agreed, his gaze oddly distant, and he didn't resist at all, as Obi-Wan took him back. He owed this child so many apologies that it hurt, but as his former master handed the little blonde back over, and exited the room, he figured he'd start with the biggest one.
"I'm so sorry for not being able to save your mother." Luke stared up at him sucking on his hand.
"I loved her more than my next ten minutes of oxygen," Anakin continued slowly. "And, I tried everything I could to help her, but in the end I wasn't strong enough. You have no idea, Luke, how sorry I am about that."
"Bah bah bah goo bah," Luke babbled.
"You're never going to remember this..." Anakin snorted slightly, and leaned forward to kiss the top of the little boy's head, before looking back up, and calling toward the door, loudly enough to be able to hear on the other side, "You can come back in now, Obi-Wan." Obi Wan returned a few moments later and smiled.
"I think you have a fan Anakin," he commented looking at the now sleeping baby who had curled up, his head resting on Anakin's chest.
"Should hope so," he joked slightly, adjusting his son's weight to be more comfortable on them both. "Can't be a poster boy without an audience, right?"
"You are right there," Obi Wan agreed sitting back in his chair. He watched them, the way Anakin was staring at Luke now one would almost think nothing had ever changed. "If you get tired just tell me but until then you can hold him as long as you like."
"I'm fine." Anakin brushed that off, leaning back against the wall. He felt slightly more comfortable now. Though, he still missed Padmé so much he felt he could cry. That was one big wall Yoda was going to have to break down, if he intended to heal him.
~Two hours later~
Obi Wan stood. "It's getting late, you need to rest and if this little lightling doesn't wake and eat I will be up all night with him," he commented coming closer to take Luke away from him.

Anakin frowned at him, shrinking back protectively.
"Can he come back tomorrow?" He asked first.
"Afraid not. I won't even be back tomorrow, I must fly to Cornellia and take care of a few outbreaks of raiders. But the day I returned or the day after depending on how late it is I will bring Luke back," he answered his voice promising he wasn't lying.
Anakin growled, almost possessively, but he did, eventually, loosen his grip enough for Obi-Wan to reclaim the boy. This was all highly frustrating, indeed...
Luke blinked tiredly at him from Obi Wan's shoulder.
"Gah bah..." he whispered before closing his eyes again. "Mae moo coo." Obi Wan turned and gave Anakin a soft smile.
"Do you want to know what he said?"
"Sure," he confirmed with a shrug, no longer looking at them.
"Good bye and... I love you." With that Obi Wan turned away carrying the sleeping baby out of the room. The door slid closed behind them.

~*~

"Great progress you've made with him, Obi-Wan," Yoda informed him, as he accompanied the taller Jedi to his star fighter. "What method did you use? Curious I am. Lowering his shields, he is. Easier to reach he is."
"I waited until he said he was ready and then let him meet Luke," he answered.
The barest hint of a smile flashed across Yoda's face, but it was gone again as quickly as it appeared.
"A good father he shall make, when ready he is," he commented, almost idly.
"Yes he shall. Please take good care of him and Luke while I am away," Obi Wan requested before climbing into the cockpit of his star fighter.
"Look after them I shall," he assured the other, turning away and walking back toward the buildings, away from the take-off pad. "May the Force be with you, Master Kenobi," he added, waving slightly, once he was far enough away, to not get caught in the draft of the boosters.
~1 week later~
"Star fighter approaching at a high speed, it doesn't seem to be slowing down," a guard reported.
"Any idea who it is?" His superior asked. The guard typed in a few things before the analysis came up.
"Master Kenobi... but he should know better..." he murmured.
"Something must be wrong. Report to Master Yoda with these turn of events and prepare the hanger for his crash!" The superior ordered.
It was fairly needless to say that Yoda wasn't too happy about this. The last thing that the Order needed was for one of its last two members to die in a shuttle crash. Besides, Obi-Wan was his friend-and Anakin's. A very small part of his mind fretted occasionally what would happen to the young man's progress, if Obi-Wan were to be hurt or worse. So, it was as quickly as he could that he exited his private chambers, and went to see what was going on, with the Republican general.
The star fighter crashed causing sparks to come up as it's medal slid against the medal of the floor. It finally came to a stop before crashing into the back wall. Everyone ran forward to see why Obi Wan had crashed this way.
The cockpit glass slid back revealing Obi Wan to them, a large nasty cut decorated his forehead, blood ran down his face (it would later be discovered his left wrist was also broken).
"Bring a litter! We must get him to the medical rooms!"
C3PO had come to see what the commotion was as well, Obi Wan groaned as they pulled him out and put him on the litter. His eyes opened briefly and saw the golden robot.
"Three...po... take... this to...Anakin..." he whispered handing him a picture with a shaky hand.
C3PO took the picture and looked at it. A smiling Luke stared back, his face covered with whatever he had just eaten, the bowl placed on his head.
It was just as needless to say that Anakin was a little alarmed to see the robot that he'd not only built, but befriended show up at his hospital room. He didn't plan to yell at him this time, though. Yoda had just finished with him recently, so he was still a little out of it. Far too groggy to worry about yelling at protocol droids.
"Master Anakin! It is so good to see you once again. You are looking much better," C3PO told him.
"Threepio..." Anakin blinked at him, raising an eyebrow, and sitting up. He still wasn't feeling enough like himself to apologize, or thank anyone yet. But, he was trying his best to be polite. Or, at the very least, not rude. "Do you need something?"
"Oh Master Kenobi just crashed in the hanger, he seemed to be in much pain. But he asked me to give this to you," the robot answered handing him to picture.
"Obi-Wan?" Something oddly concerned snuck into his tone, but he bit it back, and just took the picture out of 3P0's hand. An actual smile broke out, when he got a good look at it.
"Is there anything I can do for you while I am here Master Anakin?"
"No." He shook his head a bit. "No, Threepio, there's nothing you can do." Had he been able C3PO probably would have looked disappointed.
"Well goodbye then Master. I shall go to see about Master Kenobi," he said turning to leave.
"Wait...Threepio, there is something." Anakin amended quickly, before he could actually leave. "Tell me how he is, okay?"
"I will return when I know something," C3PO agreed and left, leaving Anakin with his picture.
Which, actually, contented Anakin a lot more than being alone did. He laid there and started at that photo the entire time, until someone came back.
C3PO returned two hours later.
"Master Kenobi shall be fine Master Anakin. He will be in a bit of pain but nothing more," he reported.
Anakin murmured something to the effect of 'good', though it was far too soft for his droid friend to actually hear it. He still didn't take his eyes off of Luke's photo, though. The only time he planned to do that was when he could see his son in the flesh.
"Maybe you should hang it on the ceiling. I have heard you spend enough time staring at it." Or...that had been the plan. He looked away from it now, to offer the droid a dry look.
"Thank you for the comment, Threepio," he muttered sarcastically. "But, I can't."
"I could for you Master," 3PO suggested. Those stained eyes stayed glued on him for a moment, before he just shrugged, and held the photo out for him.
"Fine," he agreed shortly. "Do it." C3PO climbed into the chair with the picture.
"Where Master?" He questioned.
"There." He pointed up, at a patch of ceiling directly in his line of vision, while he was laying down. C3PO placed the picture there and then placed two pins in it that would secure it to the ceiling. Climbing back down he looked at Anakin again.
"There you are Master."
The only response he got was a curt nod, though, as Anakin settled back into his staring contest with his son's image. He hoped Obi-Wan lived...even if a good sixty percent of that wish was only because he was dying to see Luke again.
"Shall I tell Master Kenobi anything when he wakes Master?"
"Yeah." He nodded again, more slowly this time. "Tell him I want to see my son."
"Alright. Goodbye Master," C3PO told him and left once again.
"Bye." He waved ever so slightly, hearing the gears whirr in his arm. After that, he had nothing better to do than, what else, stare at the ceiling. Even if he did have a particular spot this time.
~3 days later~
Obi Wan made his way down to Anakin's room, when he looked in the window he saw that he was asleep. Deciding not to wake him he turned and left to go home. After waking up the day after he had crashed in the hanger the medical droids and Yoda insisted he stay until they were sure he was ok when all he really wanted to do was go home and see Luke. He was sure Anakin wanted to see him as well, but that would have to wait until the next day.
When that day came, Obi-Wan's visit prompted another one of Anakin's honest smiles. Why? Because he knew that familiar yet not so familiar energy coming with him, and it made him feel excited. He'd been right, when he'd speculated that Luke reminded him of Padmé, but not in the bad way he'd assumed.
When the door slid open it revealed Luke sitting high in Obi Wan's good arm, pulling at the bandage that still circled his head while the cut healed. It seemed that Luke didn't like it being there.
"Luke please stop," Obi Wan requested although he didn't expect him to.
"Luke," Anakin called to him, upon realizing what was going on. His tone came out slightly more sharply than he'd first intended, but it was quite effective. Well, that and the light Force pressure he applied, to get his son to settle down. Luke stilled his hands looking at Anakin pouting.
"Thank you," Obi Wan said as he sat. "I'm sorry, I did not mean for this to take as long as it did. I would have been and brought him sooner but Yoda and the droids would not allow me to leave. Last night you were asleep."
"I would have been happy to wake up for him," he protested, holding his arm out, to be able to hold his son again. Obi Wan stood and gently handed Luke to him. Luke quickly started babbling in baby talk as if trying to tell Anakin something.
Anakin shushed him quickly enough, though, and decided that the easiest way to find out what Luke wanted would be gently probing into his mind, and just extracting the information that way, considering he didn't have a clue what he was actually saying. Obi Wan raised an eyebrow.
"Anything I can get him?"
"No." Anakin shook his head, after a moment of searching. "He's just a chatterbox." Obi Wan laughed, Luke looked at him and then started to laugh to.
"Who do you think he's more like?" Anakin wondered idly. He couldn't remember ever laughing for no reason, outside of Padmé's company.
"Right now? You."
"Me?" He glanced back up at him, raising an eyebrow.
"Yes. You always had a sense of humor even if you only expressed it with a smirk," Obi Wan explained.
"He doesn't think anything's funny, though," Anakin explained, with a small snort. "He's just happy."
"You were always happiest when in the presence of those you cared about," Obi Wan told him.
"He doesn't even know me, though." He frowned a little. "How can he care?"
"He loves you Anakin. Don't you remember the last time I had him here?" Obi Wan asked.
"I do," he corrected. "I just don't know why, or how, he loves me."
"You are his father Anakin. You have a bond that no one else can ever have or explain. Babies don't care about what we've done wrong or right, all they want it to be loved and cared for."
"Even though it's my fault his mother's gone?"
"Even with that," Obi Wan assured him. Anakin sighed thoughtfully. If Luke didn't care, and could forgive him...if Obi-Wan and Yoda could forgive him...why couldn't he seem to forgive himself? He wondered the question aloud, but it was barely audible.
"He's growing so fast," Obi Wan mused.
"Yeah," Anakin agreed. He was sure Luke was bigger than he'd been at this age. He'd been a shrimp, until he'd hit puberty, after all. "Yeah, he...he's going to be just fine in the galaxy." Himself, he couldn't be sure of, but he had faith in Luke.
Luke gave him a hard look and reached up smacking him on the nose. Obi Wan had to hold back his chuckle.
"Seems he doesn't want you thinking bad about yourself." Anakin's lips twisted wryly, and he scooted Luke a bit further up, to meet his eyes.
"Sorry, kid," he spoke to the child, as though he could actually understand him. "But, Daddy's a big screw-up." He had the majority of the population of the Republic depending on him to be their hero, and what did he do? Yep, that's right, go over to the dark side. Great move.
"Bah!" Luke exclaimed. He then placed a sloppy kiss on Anakin's cheek.
A bright crimson blush spread quickly across his war battered, alarmed face upon that. Padmé and his mother were the only two to ever kiss him before...he wasn't positive how much he appreciated it, but he did know that it embarrassed him terribly. Obi Wan smiled slightly and slowly stood.
"I must go speak with Master Yoda for a few moments. Will you both be alright?" He questioned like any concerned parent would, he did take care of Luke the most after all.
"Yeah, yeah." Anakin brushed that off absently, now staring at Luke like a baby boy was the most fascinating thing in the world. "Have fun, Mas--Obi-Wan." The word had started to slip out, almost out of habit, but he managed to catch himself mostly in time. He hadn't been paying attention...he'd have to correct that blunder...but later. For now, he was perfectly happy to just eye the one creature in the universe who didn't care at all about all the wrongs he'd committed.

Obi Wan nodded and left them.
"Da. Do da!" Luke said.

~*~

Yoda couldn't say he was exactly surprised to see Obi-Wan, when he arrived. He'd sensed him coming long before he arrived. He let him in generously, and offered him a chair, before returning to his own.
"What errand today brings you here?" He wondered with mild curiosity.
"Nothing really Master. Anakin really seems to be responding to his time with Luke so I thought it would be good for some one on one time," Obi Wan answered. Yoda nodded in thoughtful agreement, closing his large eyes for a moment, in concentration.
"Progress he makes," he commented after a few moments. "Every day, stronger he gets. Fight it, he does."
"That is good. Do you see him able to get his new arm and legs attached anytime soon?"
"Perhaps," he replied, before continuing. "On his mental recovery, it depends. Away from Palpatine, keep him we must." This wasn't a suggestion at all. It was just a fact. Anakin would never improve if they let him get back in with the 'Emperor'.

Obi Wan's good fist clenched. "If I knew where he was I would find and kill him," he growled.
"No, Obi-Wan." Yoda shook his head for that. "Right the time is not yet. Low, we must lay. No more charges against the Jedi must we commit, just yet." Obi Wan lowered his head.
"Forgive my outburst Master."
"Difficult a time this is for the Order," Yoda explained calmly. "Carefully on these waters we must tread. Our numbers we must build back up. Young Skywalker, we must build back up."
"Yes Master," he agreed. "Once I am healed should I travel around and see if there are any children who would be willing to join us?"
"To other planets we must now venture." He nodded slowly. "Corrupted, and frightened, are the minds of Coruscate." He tapped one finger meditatively against the top of his other hand. "But, for now, focus you must on Anakin. Bring him back to our side, Master Kenobi. Only then stand the chance of victory do we."
Obi Wan stood and bowed, it was time he return to Anakin and Luke.
~*~

When Obi-Wan returned, Anakin had laid down on the bed, supporting Luke, as he sat up on his chest, with his one hand, as he spoke softly to him. He planned to tell him as much about Padmé as he could, regardless of whether he remembered or not. He shut up right away, when Obi-Wan came back in, though.
"Nice chat?" He asked sitting back in his chair, he did not ask what they spoke of, it was not his business.
"Sort of..." It was probably best that he didn't ask. Anakin really didn't plan to tell him. Luke smiled at him from where he had reached up and was currently playing with Anakin's hair.
"Da! Do da!" He exclaimed. Obi Wan raised an eyebrow to him.
"Umm... you want to brush his hair?" He questioned not sure. The older Skywalker offered him the oddest look to ever grace his face. He glanced between his son and his former master, half pleadingly. Why would Luke want to do that? Padmé had never brushed his hair, he couldn't remember if his mother had or not. Hell, he rarely brushed his own hair. What would possess his son to want to?
Luke brought a hand up and messed up his own then looked back at Anakin. Obi Wan stood.
"Well... ok." He reached down and brought a soft baby brush out of the bag he had for Luke's things and gave it to him. Obi Wan watched in fascination as Luke started the pull the brush through the hair on Anakin's head that he could reach.
"What's he doing?" Anakin wondered, a bit helplessly. "And why's he doing it?"
"Brushing your hair it seems and I don't have any idea," Obi Wan answered an amused smile on his face.
His expression softened ever so slightly, and like it had with Leia, the harsh gold of his eyes seemed to dissipate a bit more. It still was no where near gone, but it seemed a bit more blue, a good step toward it's original green. Luke started to babble on his he brushed Anakin's hair.
"Do you remember being that much of a talker growing up? When I met you, you sure weren't."

"No," Anakin replied shortly. "I don't. Didn't have too many people to talk to."
"He must take after his mother in that area then," Obi Wan mused.
"I can't imagine Padmé talking that much," he snorted slightly. "She usually preferred...silent communication." He coughed discretely.
"I can't and wouldn't want to imagine what you mean."
"Really?" He blinked over at him, and for a moment, the old Anakin shone through. But, only for a moment, he turned back to Luke again, after that. Obi Wan felt this was a good of time as ever to bring his bad news up.
"Anakin... I have some bad news."
"More?" He frowned a little, looking back over at him again. "Don't tell me someone else I care about is dying," he ordered flat out, before quieting down to listen.
"No nothing like that. After I am healed, Master Yoda and I both think it is best if I travel to find new children who may want to become Jedi. I don't know how long this is going to take," he told him. Anakin's frown deepened now.
"What about Luke?" He wondered, urging the child away from his head, and into a laying position. "Who's going to take care of him?"
"I will hire someone to stay with him at night, he already has a nurse for the day when I am gone. I will ask her if she will bring him to see you but I don't know if she will say yes," he replied.
"Can't he just stay with me?" He already knew Obi-Wan would probably say no, but he had no doubt that Luke would be fine. It was a hospital. It wasn't like he couldn't get help in tending to him, if he needed to.
"I was considering it but it would be a lot of trouble for you. Especially with only your one arm. I asked Master Yoda about your other limbs today, I think he may be considering giving them to you."
"Obi-Wan, it's not like I can't get help if I need it, here," Anakin pointed out, feeling mildly annoyed again. The yellow of his eyes strengthened a bit more of what they had lost, in Luke's presence. There was a reason Jedi weren't supposed to feel angry, after all. Luke started to cry. He didn't like the negative energy he was feeling from his father. Obi Wan shot him a look.
"I am still considering it," he said.
The only response he got from Anakin was a noise half way between a grunt and a growl. Luke, however, got a soothing, hypnotic thought shot into his mind, to calm him down.
Luke sniffled and lay his head against Anakin's chest, his tears still falling.
"I can't promise anything but we'll see ok? If I were to judge you now I would say no but I won't," Obi Wan told him.
"Hey, I calmed him down, didn't I?" He wondered, resting his arm over his son's back protectively. "Obi-Wan...please. He's the only part of Padmé I have left."
"He's still crying," Obi Wan pointed out. "I'm trying to think of what will be best for both of you."
"Only reason I'm annoyed enough to make him cry is because you're being a..." He bit back a rather rude insult, that didn't want Luke to know just yet, and changed his tactic.
He closed his eyes, and tried to calm himself down. Hopefully, that would calm Luke as well.
Luke sat up wiping his tears away and looked at Anakin. He moved so that his arms were resting around Anakin's neck in what seemed to be a hug.
"Better, general?" He eyed him dryly, unable to keep the little bit of hostility out of his tone, as his hand's gears whirred softly, when he moved it to gently pet his baby's back.
"Much," Obi Wan replied keeping his stern look.
Luke sat up again a few moments later and turned to Obi Wan holding his arms out. Obi Wan stood and picked him up.
Anakin's expression fell, and he felt another surge of anger and darkness within his mind and heart. So much for that. Looked like Luke didn't want to stay with Daddy.
"He's just hungry Anakin. Calm down," Obi Wan told him pulling a bottle out of the bag.
"Oh..." He calmed again, upon the assurance. Well...who cared if he was a paranoid Sith lord? He was more friendly than Dooku had been, if he did say so himself. Some other feeling surged this time. It was not anger, nor jealousy, nor grief. It was that damn guilt again. Silently, he cursed his Jedi upbringing. If it weren't for that, he'd be having a much easier time of dealing with all the things he'd done.
Luke sucked on his bottle staring up at Obi Wan until his eyes closed, Obi Wan removed the bottle when he saw that Luke was asleep. He moved his slowly to his shoulder so he could burp him, a brief grimace of pain crossed his face.
Anakin was dead silent for several minutes, almost ten, even after Obi-Wan was finished burping Padmé's baby. And, when he did speak up, his tone was almost resignedly flat.
"I think I should feel entitled to hate you, Obi-Wan," he noted, almost absently. "But, I can't."
"Really? I thought you would to. Why can you not?" He asked quietly.
"Because," he snarled softly, not wanting to wake Luke up. "Regardless or not of whether I'm--or can ever be again--in the Order, I'm still a Jedi--because of you."
"Then I guess you hate Master Qui-Gon as well?"
"No." He glared at the wall in frustration. "Jedi don't hate." Well...theoretically, they don't love either. But, he'd only said he was a Jedi, not that he was a good one.
"Well that hurts since he is the one who chose you and insisted on making you a Jedi, if my memory serves me correctly I was very against it."
"He didn't try to kill me," Anakin pointed out coldly.
"And I did? Had I wanted to kill you Anakin you would be dead," Obi Wan replied.
"You still tried." He waved his still hacked off arm around in the air, as example. Well, granted...that was technically his fault...the entire fight had been his fault...It was all his fault, but would he ever admit it? Not yet. Obi Wan sighed shaking his head.
"We should be going. We will see you tomorrow."
Anakin just grunted his acknowledgment, and turned his moody glare to the wall, rather than the ceiling. He didn't want to look into the face that Padmé had created, while he was feeling this way.
The door slid closed behind them.

~*~
Anakin didn't need to sense them coming the next day, anyone could hear Luke talking in his baby talk a whole hallway away.
Now, he'd managed to calm down significantly since the day before. But, he'd also come to a conclusion. Luke needed to learn telepathy, so that he could shut up occasionally. That was something he could teach him, when his mind developed enough to be able to handle it...
Obi Wan came in smirking focusing his gaze on Anakin and then he looked back at Luke.
"There. There he is. Will you please be quiet for two seconds now?" He questioned.
Luke stared at Anakin for a moment before reaching for him continuing with his babble. Obi Wan just shook his head.
"He's in a good mood today," Anakin noted, sitting up, so that he could accept the child when he was offered over.
"Very," Obi Wan agreed rubbing his temple lightly. "He hasn't stopped since he woke me up this morning."
"Good," he snorted, bumping his nose lightly against the top of Luke's head. "A general has no reason to sleep past dawn anyway."
"It was 3 am, before dawn. I think you told him to torture me," Obi Wan joked lightly.
"If I did, you deserved it," Anakin pointed out, only a little bitterly this time. Holding Luke made him think of holding Padmé. And, holding Padmé made him calm. Obi Wan rolled his eyes. He looked up as the door slid open and he smiled.
"Ah, C3PO thank you," he thanked him as he took the book the robot carried.
"You're welcome Master Kenobi. Good morning Master Anakin and little Master Luke," C3PO greeted.
"Threepio." Anakin nodded to him, shifting Luke's weight slightly, on his thighs, frowning when he saw how they cut off at his knees...again. "I want my legs back," he grumbled, once the droid was gone. Well...he wanted to go see Padmé's grave, mostly. And, he needed legs to do that. Otherwise, he wouldn't have minded quite so much.
"You'll have to talk to Master Yoda about that," Obi Wan mused flipping through the rather large book.
"Great." He rolled his eyes, feeding assuring thoughts into Luke's mind the whole time, to prevent him from getting upset, before he could. Luke giggled and reached for his hair.
"This is for you," Obi Wan told him closing the book.
"Me?" He echoed, ignoring the tugging on his hair, as he tried to get sight of the cover.
"Yes you. I made it over the past few months in my very little spare time, this became full so I have started a new one and figured I could give this to you."
Anakin moved Luke over to the mattress, where he wouldn't fall, and extended his hand, to accept the book, and hopefully examine it.
Obi Wan gave him the book, keeping a watchful eye on Luke.
Anakin opened the book, and looked through it with increasing interest, he froze though, when he saw the picture image of Padmé. And, he very nearly started crying right there. He didn't, but he certainly wanted to...
"I know some of the pictures may hurt now but... maybe someday they will bring bittersweet even good feelings," Obi Wan said quietly.
"N-no..." He shook his head slightly, unable to tear his gaze away. "No, I...I'm fine."
Luke sensed his distress and scooted over placing his little hand on Anakin's medal one.
"I just...wish I'd been with her..." He admitted softly, looking away before the hot, burning tears dripped down onto Padmé's flawless face. "That's all. I still feel...like I might have been able to help her, if I had been."
"She was in much pain despite the help we gave her. I'm not sure she would have even known you were there."
"That wouldn't have been the point." He shook his head. "I might have been...physically able to do something to help her..."
"I don't know if you could have or not Anakin so I won't argue. Look on," he urged.
He turned page after page, but none interesting him as much as Padmé's pictures. Well...maybe the ones of Luke, on the last few pages, but mostly it was all Padmé.
"Do you like it?"
"It has Padmé in it." He shrugged, as though that were supposed to answer that. Still, once he reached the last page, he set it aside, and scooped Luke back up.
Luke cried out happily giving him a sweet smile. Obi Wan laughed.
"Maybe he wouldn’t have made a good Jedi," Anakin amended his earlier diagnosis with a small snort. "I don't think he could handle swearing off emotions." Obi Wan nodded in agreement.
"It would be difficult, of course he is still a baby. Babies usually find things funny or amusing or sad, their three basic emotions."
"I couldn't," he pointed out. "He's living proof of that. If he's as much like me as you say, he wouldn't be able to either."
"That is true. You know Anakin, sometimes I envy you and your emotions," Obi Wan said quietly looking at the floor.
"Why?" He offered the Jedi Master a look that clearly stated that he thought he was crazy. "Yes...they're good, occasionally. But, mostly they cause nothing but grief. Obi-Wan, I envy you."
"You shouldn't my young... Anakin. I envy your memories to. You remember your mother where I do not. The first person I ever loved was the man that trained me but of course that was thrown away because it is not allowed. And then there was you, and now Luke."
"I wish I couldn't remember her, sometimes," Anakin admitted. He didn't know why he was having this conversation with Obi-Wan Kenobi. This man was his enemy, no longer his friend. He, himself, was no longer a Jedi. He'd thrown that willingly away for Padmé, why did he still feel...like he needed this man's support? "Whenever I do think about her, all I can remember is her thanking me for coming for her...and then...and then she..." He trailed off, not wanting to cry in front of his former teacher nor his son. Obi Wan stood suddenly.
"I have some things to take care of. I'll be back soon," he said and left.
Anakin waited silently, for the door to shut, and until he felt Obi-Wan far down the hallway, where he knew he wouldn't hear, before he whispered out two words that he hated himself for, as soon as he said them.
"Yes, Master."
"Coo caa!" Luke exclaimed.
~2 hours later~
Obi Wan returned, the sling from his arm finally removed. Two medical droids accompanied him.
"Let me take him while we get you ready," he said.
"For...?" Anakin blinked at him, more than a little bewildered. What in the name of the Force was going on? Obi Wan gave him a smile.
"Well, if you are going to take care of little lightling here, you are going to need more room than this little space."
"Still not getting it, Obi-Wan," he stated, raising an eyebrow. "I'm afraid you're going to have to be a bit more blunt about it."
"I'm healed so that means I will be leaving within the next two days. You wanted to take care of Luke while I was away, to do that you are going to need more room," Obi Wan explained.
"Oh...okay..." He agreed slowly. "So, how much preparation could that take?"
"Not much for you. Only being moved to a bigger room really. I will be moving some of Luke's things to that room... you may even be able to help," he replied.
"How?" He raised an eyebrow. He knew he'd mentioned beating Count Dooku single-handedly at least once or twice...but that hadn't been literally. And, who knew? Moving baby things might be more complicated!
Obi Wan took a box from one of the droids and opened it. Inside was a new prosthetic arm. Anakin cocked his head a bit.
"You talked to Yoda?"
"Actually he decided this himself. He thought if you were to be taking care of Luke it might be better for you to have use of both arms."
"Or, at the very least, easier." He agreed lowly to that. "What about my legs?"
"Not yet. But you know what I always told you, you must be patient," Obi Wan answered.
"And, you know what I always told you," Anakin countered with dryly. "No."
"Sorry this is the best that could be done so you'll have to live with it. Now come on, we want to get this done as soon as possible."

"Well...yes..." He agreed, loosening his grip somewhat, to let Obi-Wan take Luke back, while the droids took him off. It would take a bit, to get the surgery done...
While he was in surgery Obi Wan left Luke with his day nurse and Master Yoda in his quarters while he moved things into the new room. His wrist was paining him by the end of the day but he continued to work, the very last two things he got were the picture from Anakin's ceiling and the scrapbook.
When Anakin was finally moved to his own room again, late that night, he was eyeing his new fingers, and flexing them thoughtfully. He was still really annoyed that Obi-Wan had cut his hand off to begin with...but this was better than nothing. He'd need another glove now, though...
"I thought you might think that so here you are," Obi Wan told him handing him the glove as he came back in. He looked around making sure he had gotten everything.
The former Jedi Knight, pulled his shirt sleeve down, like the other one, and fit the leather thing on over it, smiling grimly at the nice, snug fit.
"I would have brought Luke back but he was asleep and I didn't want to wake him. I will be leaving in the morning so I will bring him in then. C3PO will be coming in to check on you after that and of course the medical droids will be in and out. I wrote down this list of things I've learned about Luke so you wouldn't have to guess," Obi Wan explained handing him a little notebook.
Anakin actually laughed lightly to that.
"You're like a doting father," He commented idly, glancing through the pages. "Which, I believe, is my job."
"Yes well you are like a son to me and he has been staying with me so I had more time to watch him those first few months. I don't know how long I will be gone but here's a communicator so in case anything happens you can call me or I can call to just check in," he told him.
"Uh huh," he snorted, accepting the thing. "And, don't call me your son again. It's creepy."
"Sorry, would brother make you feel better?"
"Not...really," he admitted, offering him the oddest look. "That'd be a little weird too, considering there was one point where I had a huge crush on you." He didn't feel as awkward admitting that as he felt he should...but, either way, he just eyed Obi-Wan dryly. It was the truth. Why bother to lie, if he didn't have to anymore?
Obi Wan raised an eyebrow but brushed it off, not showing the difficultly it took.
"Well get some rest tonight Anakin. You will have a long few months ahead of you," he said.
"Maybe you're a better Jedi than I gave you credit for, Obi-Wan," his former padawan commented, allowing the droids to get him quite comfortable on the bed.
"Goodnight Anakin." And with that he left.

Anakin just shook his head in mild amusement, before settling down for the night. He had a couple more questions, when Obi-Wan returned the next day...
~*~

The next morning it was very early when Obi Wan found himself walking down the hall to Anakin's room. Luke lay against his shoulder sound asleep, covered by a blanket. He pressed the buttons that would make the door silent when he entered. Glancing towards Anakin's bed he saw that he was still asleep and had not been disturbed by his presence. Gently he gave Luke a hug and a soft kiss on the forehead.
"Be good for your father my little lightling," he whispered. Leaning down he placed Luke in his crib and covered him. "Goodbye little one." His eyes were tearing up so he turned and started to walk out of the room before he paused in the doorway. Green eyes landed on Anakin's sleeping form. "Take good care of him my...padawan." And with that he stepped out letting the door slide closed.
That really annoyed Anakin, when he woke up to find Luke there, and Obi-Wan gone. He'd wanted to ask about R2! Well...he supposed he could always ask 3PO, next time he popped in.
Luke slept late for once but when he woke he looked around in bewilderment. This wasn't the room he was used to waking up in.
"Ke?" He called using the name he had given Obi Wan. Anakin used the Force to move his son's crib closer to his own bed, and then sat up on what his knees should have been, reaching in to extract the baby.
"Obi-Wan's not here right now," he relayed the message, having gotten the question from the baby's mind. "But, I am." Luke looked puzzled and looked around again before looking back at Anakin.
"Da?"
"Just you and me for a while," Anakin confirmed, laying back down, and settling his son down, straddling his chest. "But, it'll be just fine. You trust me to take care of you, right?" Luke seemed to think for a moment before he lay his head over Anakin's heart. "I'll take that as a yes," Anakin snorted at him, before just shifting slightly on the mattress, and waited for 3PO to come. "I'll have a new friend to introduce you to soon, if I can find him."
C3PO made his appearance about 30 minutes later. "Good morning Master Anakin. Did you and baby Luke sleep well?" He asked.
"Yes," Anakin confirmed, turning to him. "Threepio, what happened to Artoo? Did he make it back off Mustafar?"
"I have seen him around so I would say so. Robots do not have ghosts. Would you like me to find him?"
"That'd be great." He nodded, the barest hint of a smile ghosting across his lips. "I think he'd make a good friend to Luke, too."
"I shall find him then. But before that, Master Kenobi put me in charge of you and Luke's nourishment. He doesn't trust those medical droids. What can I get you this morning?" C3PO asked.
"It doesn't matter." He shrugged a little. "I'm not picky, and I trust you with him."
"Master Kenobi left food for little master Luke. I will come back soon with your breakfasts and R2 then," he answered leaving.
"Well, kid." He turned his attention back to the little being on his chest, once they were alone again. "Time for you to meet another one of my best friends." Luke looked up at him and smiled.
"Bah bah bah," he said. It was Anakin's turn to smile, when 3PO returned later, with none other than R2-D2 in toe. He'd missed that little bot.
R2D2 whistled and beeped in greeting. C3PO set the tray on the table, a jar of food and spoon for Luke while their was a egg and bacon breakfast for Anakin.

"Thanks, Threepio." Anakin offered him a small smile, before turning his attention to R2-D2. "Hey, Artoo." Obi-Wan had accused him of spoiling R2, before. Of treating him as a pet, and a friend. Of getting too attached. And...really, giving the droid a pat on the dome, in greeting did nothing to disperse that theory. "Obi-Wan been treating you well?"
R2 beeped in confirmation, he even told Anakin of some spoiling Obi Wan had been doing. Anakin flat out grinned, upon hearing that.
"Good to hear," He snickered slightly. "And...sorry about the whole Mustafar thing. I hadn't meant to leave you there, I promise." And, technically, he hadn't. He just hadn't been the one to ensure R2's safe journey home. R2 beeped again, had he been human he would have been shrugging it off. Luke stared down at the little robot apparent wonder written on his face.
"Oh, right." He carefully leant over, holding Luke on the floor in a standing position so that he could see R2 properly. "Luke, this is Artoo. Artoo, this is my son. You'll help take care of him too, right?"
R2 rolled forward and Luke cried out happily as R2 whistled and beeped for his entertainment.
"Thank you." Anakin's grin slipped into a smirk, as he pulled Luke back up onto the bed. "Threepio." He turned back to the golden protocol droid. "Master Yoda's coming today, right? There's something I need to talk to him about. Soon."
"I believe so Master Anakin. I have not actually seen him but he has not missed a day with you yet," 3PO answered.
"Good." He nodded, glancing at the wall directly in front of him in a distracted way. "That...that's good. It's...important that I speak with him soon."
"Would you like me to go find him Master?"
"Actually..." His smile regained some of it's vigor, as he nodded a little. "That would be wonderful, Threepio."
Luke tried hard to whistle or do something back at R2 but he just ended up clapping his hands and laughing. C3PO turned and went to find Yoda.
Thus, Anakin had several minutes of just sitting there--almost half an hour--and watching Luke and R2 play. 3PO did return, with Yoda, before too long, though. And, it was with grim satisfaction that Anakin noticed the old master's presence.

"See me you wanted young Skywalker?" Yoda questioned.
"Yes, Master." Anakin nodded respectfully. "I wished to discuss something with you. Obi-Wan told me of your ideals to rebuild the Order, and it brought something to my mind. Master...I don't intend to go against the Order again...but, I don't intend to attempt to rejoin it, either."
Yoda watched him, choosing not to speak, curious to understand what he was saying.
"I don't..." Anakin struggled to explain. "Have what it takes to be a proper Jedi. I've already proven how easy it is for me to fall to the dark, and...I need to give all my attention to Luke. I can't do that, if I'm swearing off emotions, to become a Jedi. I think it's about time that the Republic's 'poster boy'," His tone dripped with mild bitterness, as he quoted what Obi-Wan had once called him, "to hang up his light saber. At least as far as political battles go. If I don't have what it takes to be a Jedi, I definitely don't have what it takes to deal with politics again."
"Proposing something interesting you are. Continue if you please," Yoda instructed.
"I was done, Master Yoda," Anakin assured him. "I can't be the Jedi I should be. Wouldn't it be better if I'm not a Jedi at all, than an ineffective one?"
"Speak the truth you do. A good mind you have so let you go we cannot. Help us rebuild even if you rejoin not will you?" Yoda asked. Anakin was silent for several moments.
"I'll help train the younglings, if you and Obi-Wan want," he agreed slowly. "But, I'm not a Jedi Knight anymore, Master. I can't go back down the path I took. That was an entirely different life ago." Yoda gave him the barest hint of a smile.
"My thanks you have Anakin Skywalker."
"I fulfill only my duty to the Republic, Master Yoda." He shrugged slightly. "To the Republic I love and have risked my life to protect countless times." To the Republic Padmé had loved so dearly as well. "I am fulfilling my destiny, as willed by the Force, to defend it from the Sith. Nothing more." Master Yoda nodded in agreement.
"My trust and support you have," Yoda told him. Luke giggled at the old alien, being to young to understand the important things they spoke of, that possibly determine his own future.
"And...Luke can train, if he wants to, once he's old enough to make that decision," Anakin continued slowly. "But, I don't want him going through what I did. I don't want him going into battle. And..." He offered Yoda as dry a look as the Jedi Master had probably ever seen directed at him. "If I have your trust, can I have my legs too?"
"Not yet young Skywalker. Proven stronger your mind has but not ready is it yet for that." Anakin's expression fell again, when he heard that, and he grumbled moodily under his breath,

"I had something I wanted to do...I would have come back..."
"Soon Anakin. Soon," Yoda assured him.

~*~

Not much happened after that, until Yoda finally decided he was ready to have the surgery to get his legs back. At that point, Obi-Wan was still gone. When he did arrive back, however, he wanted in on Anakin having the most interesting conversation with the hologram of a formidable looking alien, currently brandishing a filthy looking dish rag at him.
"No, just trust me!" He was currently trying to calm the spiky creature down. "Just put the flyers up. You won't be sorry!"
"And what happens when my customers start calling', complaining' to about how you’re not doing your job?" The alien retorted, eyeing him suspiciously. "I'm not going to be your secretary, Skywalker."
"That's not going to happen," Anakin promised. "I'm going to do my job just fine." He finally noticed Obi-Wan, and motioned for him to be quiet. "And, in the event that I don't, I'm an independent contractor. They'll be coming to me, not you."
"What about that kid you mentioned? Can you handle public advertising', and still take care of him?"
"I'm doing this for Luke. Besides, I have friends who can watch him, while I'm working." He brushed that off. "Look, just put the flyers up, and leave the rest to me?"
The alien grunted, but finally nodded. Anakin bid him a polite farewell, and hit the off button, now actually turning his attention to Obi-Wan. "Sorry about that." He offered him a vaguely sheepish look. "Work related." Obi Wan smiled. He had been gone for 3 months and it felt good to be back.
"It seems you've been doing well, started a new business?" He questioned quietly seeing Luke asleep in his crib.
"Something like that," he confirmed slowly. "I figured someone with Jedi training should make a good enough mercenary. And, I hope to need money to support him with," he nodded to Luke, "soon."
"Master Yoda kept me updated on you. He says you and Luke have been doing very well... great stars but he has gotten big. Hello my little lightling, I'm back," he whispered leaning over and gently running his hand over Luke's head. Turning he looked Anakin over for himself.
"I must say that Yoda was correct. Complete with legs and all." He smiled.
"Yep." He grinned in satisfaction. "Did Master Yoda also tell you that he gave me a teaching position, with the new younglings? I'm just assuming you actually have younglings for me to train." Obi Wan nodded.
"About 11 agreed to come as soon as they were ready, I must go back and collect them next week. There are about 13 others that show promise but are to young just yet," he replied.
"It's better than none." He nodded. Again, he felt horrible for playing a part in killing off the Jedi they'd already had.
"That it is. So how has he been? Good I would hope."
"Wonderful," Anakin confirmed. "I have to admit, I'm going to miss him, now that you're back."
"Well you aren't going to be far. Master Yoda told me he felt you were ready to go home... well my home. If you felt you were ready of course," Obi Wan told him.
"I can leave?" His eyes lit up slightly. They'd steadily been returning to their normal color, while Obi-Wan had been gone, and were now only a few shades more yellow than they had been originally. Obi Wan nodded.
"To come home with me and Luke, if you are ready of course."
"Yeah, I'm ready!" He confirmed with a hard nod. "I've been ready to get out of here for four months!" Obi Wan laughed. This caused Luke to wake up. He blinked a moment and looked towards the sound of his voice.
"KE!" He exclaimed pulling himself up. Obi Wan smiled and went over picking him up and spinning him around. Luke cried out hugging on his neck tightly.
"Hello my little lightling."
"Why is it you can be gone for three months, and still be more paternal with him than I am?" Anakin wondered dryly, pulling one of his new knees up to his chest, and resting his chin on it. Obi Wan turned back smiling slightly.
"I'm older?" He offered.
"Well yeah..." He agreed slowly. "But, unless you and Padmé were having an affair behind my back, I'm still his father. It just seems...odd, to me..."
"You know I would never have done such a thing against the Order or to you."
"Yeah," he snorted, albeit more good naturedly than it usually was. Less bitterly, anyway. "I'm the only Jedi with enough guts to sleep with a Senator."
"Probably. Well if you are ready, we can start getting your things together," Obi Wan told him.
"Yeah, I'm ready," he confirmed with a nod. "I can help this time, too. Because I can stand up, and move." Obi Wan nodded and started with the task of getting Luke to let go.
"Come on Luke, I'm not leaving this time." Anakin smirked at them in amusement.
"It's no wonder he's hyper," he commented. "Someone interrupted his nap."
"Well sorry. You made me laugh." Anakin just rolled his eyes mildly, and got up, walking over and gently running his fingers over Luke's forehead, to put him to sleep.
"And you didn't think of that...because?"
"I just got back and am tired, but I couldn't wait to see you guys," he answered. "My mind isn't working like it should be."
"Uh huh." Anakin nodded, still smirking, and just waited for Obi-Wan to put Luke back down, as he moved to start getting boxes back out of the closet, to refill them. Obi Wan lay him down and covered him up. He soon joined Anakin in packing his things up.
~An hour later~
"Is that everything?"
"Should be." He nodded, glancing around the room. "It's almost all his. I still don't really own anything." Just a few articles of clothing, because it would be absurd for a Jedi Knight to go into battle naked.
"Alright I'll go bring the speeder around. Be back in a few," he said.
"Alright, Obi-Wan." Anakin agreed, moving back over to the crib-it was the last thing he had left out, and only because Luke was still in it. Which was why he was there now, to stare at his sleeping child, until his former teacher came back. When Obi Wan returned C3PO came with him.
"C3PO will watch Luke while we take this stuff out."
"Right." He nodded, then glanced at the robot. "Don't wake him up, Threepio."
"I will try not to Master Anakin," the droid replied.
"Thank you." He smiled wryly at him, before just leaning over and grabbing the first box he saw. "And, Obi-Wan," He turned to the Jedi, once they were alone out in the hall. "Thank you, for getting Artoo back safely." Obi Wan nodded and picked up two boxes, one resting on top of the other. "No, really, I appreciate it," he promised. "I would have felt even worse, if he'd gotten melted."
"Don't worry about it Anakin. Really," Obi Wan told him.
"Alright..." He agreed, they'd gotten outside, and reached Obi-Wan's speeder. He shifted the weight of the box slightly, to lift the trunk up, and place it inside. Obi Wan did the same with his and placed a hand on Anakin's shoulder.
"It's good to be back," he said quietly. Anakin glanced at him, blinking with slight interest, before smiling slightly, and nodding respectfully.
"It's good to have you back," he admitted, even though his pride and instincts were screaming for him not to. "General Kenobi," he added, just to satisfy them, before turning on booted heel, and going back in, to get the next load of boxes. Obi Wan chuckled and followed. Once they had all the boxes loaded he picked Luke up.
Anakin Skywalker, for the first time since he'd thought he might be granted Mastery, was excited. Honestly excited. He was out of the hospital, he wasn't completely evil, he had Luke, he still missed Padmé, but for the most part things were good. Except...he glanced out upon the streets of the Galactic City, watching the traffic buzz past, completely oblivious to what was going on in their own government.
"Obi-Wan," he spoke up finally. "What do you and Master Yoda plan to do about the Chancellor?" Obi Wan's jaw tightened. He remembered his words to Yoda a few months back, he still wished it but had not acted on it.
"I have my own wishes for him but Master Yoda feels this is not the time," he answered.
"I want him," Anakin stated firmly. "I want him dead for what he did to me." For what he'd done to Padmé. "Obi-Wan, if you give me one thing for the rest of my life, give me this chance to take Palpatine's life." Hatred burned deep within him, and it took all the will and discipline he had to keep the residues of the dark side in him from rising to more than that.
"If I don't get to him first," Obi Wan replied with a smirk.
"No," he insisted shaking his head. "He's mine." He turned his gaze away from the window, and onto the older man. "You've never fought him, Obi-Wan. You don't know what it's like. You can't kill him, but I can. So, let me." Obi Wan looked over at him.
"I will do my best to refrain myself then," he promised.
"Thank you," he muttered irritably, turning his gaze back to the window, just as the Senate and Chancellor's tower came into view. Palpatine would burn, if he had his way. But...decapitation by light saber was a good second choice. Obi Wan pulled over and landed outside a tall tower.
"My rooms are on the very top floor," he explained climbing out and getting Luke.
"Well, good," he snorted, getting out and stretching slightly. "That'll be fun to carry all that stuff up."
"There's elevators, which will make things easier. Let me go put him down in his room and I will come back to help," Obi Wan told him
"Alright." Anakin nodded, pulling the hood of his cloak up. There were several people giving him rather odd looks, and he'd come to the conclusion that it would be best if they didn't recognize him just yet.
"Do you want to stay down here or come up and see your own room?" Obi Wan asked.
"I'll come," he agreed, crossing his arms inside his large sleeves, and following him in. Anything to get out of the street...
~*~

Once inside the building Obi Wan went to the elevator and pushed the button, the door opened moments later. Inside Obi Wan pressed the button that would let them out on the top floor.
"Here's the card, the code is 5853," he said switching the arm that Luke was in as well as handing the card to Anakin.
"Alright." He nodded, quickly memorizing the code. "Easy enough."
"I'll have a card made for you within the next few days," Obi Wan promised taking Luke to his room. "Your room is the first on the left." Anakin nodded, thoughtfully, frowning when he actually reached it.
"No doors?"
"I have no idea why but no there is not. I put up a curtain for myself, I could do the same for you if you wanted."
"Yeah..." He nodded slowly. "That might be good." He intended to have business contacts reach him at home. It would be harder to explain, if someone walked in on another of his conversations...
"While we're up here, let me show you around." Obi Wan walked from the hallway and turned a couple of lights on. "Kitchen, bathroom, living room of course. Nothing much but it's home."
"You have a holo-communicator, right?"
"What real home doesn't? It's there on the coffee table," he answered pointing. "We should go get your stuff before Luke decides to wake up."
"Yeah." He nodded, glancing at the table, and following him back out. "Oh...and...Obi-Wan, if you happen to get any odd calls from angry rich guys, it's probably for me." Obi Wan raised an eyebrow in question but he didn't verbally ask.
"As long as they don't come and ransack my home or harm Luke, we'll be fine," he agreed.
"Don't worry." He brushed that off. "If they can afford my rates, they don't need to ransack your home." Together it only took three trips down to get all the boxes. Anakin started to head off to his room to start putting things away when Obi Wan stopped him by putting a hand on his shoulder.
"What?" He glanced over his shoulder, at him. "What is it?"
"Be careful and if you ever need help... do not hesitate to ask... alright?"
"I'm a big boy, Obi-Wan." Anakin smiled at him. "I'm not going to be killed."
"You never know," the other told him. Obi Wan left him then to go wake Luke, it was getting about time for supper.
"Even if I am," he called after him idly, even as he passed through the door less way. "There is no death; there is the Force, right?" He quoted from the Jedi Code. Even Obi-Wan couldn't argue against the code. Obi Wan smiled as he woke Luke up. The baby woke up quickly and latched onto him once again.
"I know you want to so tell me everything I have missed," Obi Wan chuckled as he walked back to the kitchen. Luke quickly started up with his baby talk, Obi Wan took the actual words from his mind. Anakin, for one, did what he usually did, that evening. Or, with a small twist. He unpacked his very, very few belongings, and then crawled up into his bed, to meditate until dinner came. Then, he would go back to it afterwards, until sleep. Obi Wan knocked quietly on the doorway.
Anakin made a huffing noise, similar to a 'shush', and just continued to sit there, finally opening his eyes, and raising an eyebrow curiously at him.
"Sorry to interrupt but what would you like to eat?" Obi Wan asked.

“It doesn’t matter. Anything’s fine,” Anakin answered.

"Alright, but don't blame me if you don't like it," Obi Wan replied disappearing. Anakin caught a little more meditation, while Obi-Wan did that. He did stop to have dinner with the other two residents, but then he was right back to it. He wanted to prepare himself for the fight against Palpatine as he could get.
"Anakin! Hurry!" Obi Wan called, his voice full of excitement.
"What?" His eyes snapped back open, and he hurried back out of the room, and down toward where he sensed Obi-Wan, in the small place.
"Look," Obi Wan smiled pointing from where he sat on the floor. A few feet away Luke stood holding onto the table. When he saw Anakin he smiled brightly and let go, taking his first shaky steps forward.
"Oh...my..." Anakin blinked at him. This was better than meditating. He wished Padmé were still alive to see it...his expression fell ever-so-slightly.
"Da!" Luke exclaimed taking another step towards him. He lost his balance then and fell down, Luke stared at the floor for a moment before looking up his smile still bright as ever.
"Well...he certainly has spirit, if nothing else." He noted, with a small smile, crossing his arms over his chest, as he watched.
"Da!" Luke called holding his arms in the air.

"That he does," Obi Wan mused. Anakin continued to watch him for several minutes, before, crouching down, ruffling his hair, and heading back to his room.
Obi Wan smiled as Luke tried to crawl after him but he caught him. "Not now little lightling. Your father needs time to think," he explained and then fell back raising Luke into the air. His fingers tickled the child's sides causing him to squirm and giggle.
They didn't hear anything more from Anakin that night. But, the next morning, he did have a new question for Obi-Wan, that had occurred to him the night before.
"Did you get my light saber off of Mustafar?" Obi Wan paused a moment in thought as he changed the calendar on the wall. Finally he shook his head.
"I don't think so. I was to worried about you," he replied.
"Hnn..." He frowned. His job was going to be much more difficult without a light saber...It hurt his pride to know that he'd lost another one, too. "Well...great." He supposed he could always just go to Yoda and request a new one...or just make one on his own. He'd had to fix them before, making one from scratch couldn't be that much harder...
"We'll go ask Yoda for a new one today. They have a new model out that should be best for what you're going to be doing," Obi Wan answered his unspoken thought. He turned from the calendar. "My notes are already on here, you should put your own on there as you get your jobs so we will know when to call Larisa."
"Who?" He blinked, cocking his head in mild interest.
"Larisa. The nurse I had for him when you were still in the hospital and I had to go places," he replied. "Her number is here. She lives three floors down, so in case you ever suddenly get a job, she can be here quick."
"They're all going to be sudden," he pointed out, with a small snort. "Most people don't plan assassinations in advance."
"That's true, but for the most part I will be around. It's case in case I'm away and then you need to leave."
"That's fine," he confirmed with a nod. A baby sitter would be good...he could just imagine trying to drag Luke around with him to work...
"Nor would I want you to." Since they had started living together, it seemed Obi Wan could read his thoughts without actually doing it. Anakin snorted in amusement.
"Stop that," he ordered, walking back into the other room. "You're making me feel like a padawan again."
"Sorry, I don't mean to." Obi Wan went to get Luke before he had to leave. "Well let's see... it's 5 days until you turn a year old. It really doesn't seem like you should be that old."
And, those five days passed faster than any of them expected. Anakin didn't argue, when Obi-Wan took Luke out for the day, but he didn't accompany them either. True, it had been a year since Luke had been born...but it had also now been a year since Padmé had died. The only place Anakin Skywalker wanted to go, besides staying put, was to her grave. But, he knew that it would be crowded. He'd go see her the next afternoon. He was sure that she wouldn't have minded him being a day late.
Obi Wan returned with a smiling Luke around supper time. He brought a small cake and candle.
"Ready?" He asked Anakin.
"Sure," he agreed with a distracted shrug, crawling off of his bed, to follow them into the small kitchen. He felt a little guilty about his wife's death making him so depressed on his son's birthday, but only a little.
Obi Wan sat Luke in his chair and lit the candle that had been placed in the cake. He lowered the lights and together he and Anakin sang Luke 'happy birthday'.
"Blow out your candle Luke," he smiled. Luke clapped happily and blew at the candle until it went out. Anakin watched him do that in subdued silence, and left the room again, once he was done. He wanted to meditate some...calm down. He felt like his heart was going to pop, and that didn't sound like a good idea to him.
"Anakin wait, I have a present for Luke but it's also for you," Obi Wan called. He paused, and turned back around, waiting in mute expectance. Obi Wan smiled and went to the door.
"Come on in," he said quietly. Senator Organa and his wife entered, the senator carrying a baby girl. Anakin blinked in alarm. Was that...? It couldn't be...
"Leia?" He wondered uncertainly. It had to be her! She looked just like a one year old Padmé might have...
"Hello Anakin. You are looking well," Senator Organa greeted him with a smile, his wife also smiled. Obi Wan went to get Luke.
"Senator," he greeted back, still a little cautiously, staring at Leia, as though she might quite possibly be the most fascinating thing in the whole world, at that moment.
Leia looked at him and then hid her face in Organa's neck shyly peeking out at him.
"Please have a seat," Obi Wan offered sitting with Luke on the floor. Luke was also captivated by the other child. She was shy, Anakin noted curiously. Much shyer than her brother. He could fix that, though. She was still young enough to earn her trust easily.
Organa and his wife took a seat on the couch while Anakin took the other chair. Leia looked down at Luke and smiled making him smile back. He pulled himself up with the table and took slow steps toward her until he could lean against the couch looking up at her.
"They seem to like each other," Anakin commented awkwardly, after several minutes. He'd broken almost every law the Senate had put into play--including treason on the Chancellor, for a short time. He felt weird, sitting casually with the Organas, now.
Leia looked towards his voice and studied him before holding her arms out. Senator Organa smiled, he had long since forgiven Anakin for his actions (as had his wife) with the help of his beautiful little girl.
"She seems to like you as well." The barest smile crooked his lips, and he nodded. Maybe Obi-Wan had been right about paternal bonds, or whatever it was...
Senator Organa scooted forward careful to not knock Luke over and held Leia out a bit.
"Would you like to hold her?" He asked.
"Sure..." He agreed warily, getting up, and going over, accepting her light weight, then moving back to his chair. Yep...she definitely looked like Padmé. Her hair, her eyes, even her nose... Leia smiled snuggling into his arms.
"Hi," she said looking up at him.
"You can talk?" He blinked at her, then up at Bail. "She can talk?"
"Only 'hi', 'bye', and of course baby talk," Bail answered.
"Ah." He nodded, turning back to her. "Well...hello to you too." Leia giggled.
"How about Luke? Is he talking yet?" Bail asked.
"No... I'm not sure if we want him to either, he babbles enough as it is. But he is starting to walk as you can see," Obi Wan answered.
"It's not hard to know what he wants, anyway," Anakin added softly, running his fingers through Leia's rather thick hair, even though he couldn't feel it. At that moment Luke decided to express his displeasure at the new baby being taken further away from him.
"Ah!" He exclaimed and let go of the couch quickly, he would have lost his balance and fallen backward hitting his head on the table if Obi Wan hadn't caught him.
"Now, now. Don't get to excited," he cautioned and set him near Anakin's feet. Anakin was silent, and just fed the information on who Leia was directly into Luke's mind. It wasn't the first time he'd done that, rather than just extracting what he needed. Most of the conversations he and his son had were completely telepathic. They were much easier than trying to make him understand actual speech. Leia turned and looked down at Luke. She smiled and he smiled back. Luke looked up at Anakin, his excitement clear in his eyes.
"Yep." He nodded, setting her down on the floor, so that they could get a better look at each other. "I'm not lying, I promise." Luke and Leia stared at each other for a moment before they both raised their hands at the same time and brought them together. Both giggled when they felt each other was real. Leia was first to move and she threw her arms around Luke.
"Bozher," she giggled.
"A new word." Organa's wife smiled. Anakin's smile strengthened a little, as he watched them. He was pleased that they liked each other, but more importantly, he could feel Padmé's presence in the Force, around them. He'd have to compliment Yoda on the code being right about that, next time he saw him. He wondered if Obi-Wan could feel her too. Or Leia or Luke...
Obi Wan raised his eyes to Anakin's, they connected for just a moment and he smiled nodding. Anakin's gaze softened slightly, and he turned it back to his children, basking in Padmé's warm energy. He hoped she'd stay with him...he'd missed her so much...And, if she did stay, he wouldn't have to go to her grave at all.
The Senator and his wife stayed until late talking with Anakin and Obi Wan. Both children had fallen asleep holding each other at Anakin's feet.
"We should be going, I have business so we will be here for a few days if you would like to see her again," Bail offered.
"I can never express how much joy she has brought into our lives Anakin." Organa's wife stood and came over to him, she stood behind and then leaned down hugging him. "Thank you so much."
"You don't have anything to thank me for, Mrs. Organa." Anakin assured her, stiffening slightly under the touch. "It wasn't my decision to make. You should be thanking Obi-Wan, if anyone."
"I have thanked him but you... you are the one who gave her life and so the true thanks goes to you," she answered. He really wasn't dealing very well with getting such high praise for not doing anything.
"Really, that was Padmé." He promised, feeling a slight brush on his mind, that he knew was her. "And, she says you're very welcome." Organa's wife smiled and nodded. She kneeled down and gently picked Leia up.
"It's late dear, I'm sure Master Obi Wan and Anakin would like to rest," she told her husband. He nodded and stood, Obi Wan did as well.
"This evening has been wonderful. Thank you for having us," he thanked Obi Wan shaking his head. Obi Wan shook his head, he had felt how happy this had made Anakin tonight and that was enough for him.
"Thank you for coming," he replied showing them out.

"Obi-Wan," Anakin spoke up, once they were gone. "Have you been to Padmé's grave yet?"
"No, I am going now though. The crowds should be gone this late. I like the silence when I go to see her," he answered picking up his cloak.
"Could you do me a favor?" He requested, reluctantly. "I got something for her, before she died, but I never had a chance to take it. I'd take it myself, but she doesn't want me going, for whatever reason. Would you do it, since you're going anyway?"
"Of course Anakin," he said picking Luke up off the floor. Luke mumbled something but slept on his Obi Wan took him to his room and put him in his crib. He returned to the living room then waiting for Anakin to return from his own room. When he did, he dropped a small ring into Obi-Wan's hand. It wasn't fancy, no stones at all, and it obviously hadn't cost very much--he hadn't had any money.
"That's all," he confirmed with a nod. Obi Wan nodded and placed the ring in his pocket where it would be safe.
"I don't know when I'll be back so don't wait up," he told him walking out the door.
"Alright," he agreed to that. He never had gotten his meditation done...but for now, he just wanted to enjoy being able to feel Padmé again. He'd go to sleep later.

~Padmé's grave~
Obi Wan entered the building with a special code that only a few knew so they could get inside. Everyone else was refrained to staying outside to pay their respects, it was a way to keep others from vandalizing her final resting place. He smiled down sadly, she looked the same she had the day of her funeral. The glass placed over her and the special gas placed inside kept her well preserved.
"Hello Padmé. I sorry I haven't come to visit for awhile, things have been busy. Luke is getting so big, he's started to take shaky steps. I think he will start talking soon. Anakin has been getting better every day..." he started and continued telling her everything that had happened since his last visit. As he told her about earlier that night he realized that it had been five hours since he arrived. "I should be going Padmé. I told Anakin not to wait up but you never know about him," he finished. He turned to leave and then remembered the ring Anakin had given him.
"Oh. I almost forgot this. Anakin said he bought it before you died but never had the chance to give it to you." He lay the ring on top of the glass. "Goodbye Padmé." And with that he left.
The Emperor was in a bad mood. He'd heard from inside intelligence that Darth Vader had been brainwashed by those Jedi fools again. It irritated him to no end that he couldn't keep a decent apprentice, with the Order still intact. He couldn't believe Obi-Wan and Yoda had survived his command 66, either. Of all the rotten luck! But, he had a plan that he felt sure wouldn't fail, this time. A direct one on one assault on Kenobi and the troll. This time, he would over see it himself. This time, the Jedi wouldn't get away, even if he had to skewer them both with a light saber himself.
Obi Wan wrapped his cloak about himself hoping to ward off the cool night air. Although the city never slept, things were not as busy as they usually were. He had not driven his speeder, on the nights he visited Padmé he liked to think on the way there and on the way back.
"Now," Palpatine muttered to his clone troopers, upon catching sight of the Jedi Master. "Get him now. Go."
Before Obi Wan could even react to the alarms going off in his mind he was grabbed from behind by his attackers arms. Six energies he felt, five of which were weaker than the one, those five were the ones that held him. He didn't need to be told twice who's energy it was. It was the man he had promised Anakin he would refrain from killing because he wanted the pleasure of it... Palpatine. Obi Wan struggled against the 10 hands holding him but to no avail.
"Palpatine..." he growled. "What the hell do you want?"
"Revenge...or, I suppose you could call it legal punishment." He smiled his twisted smile, and stepped toward him. "For theft and treason." Small flecks of spit flew from his mouth, landing on Obi-Wan's face, as he spoke.
"Theft and treason of what?! I have never touched you, as much as I've wanted to kill you," Obi Wan spat back.
"Theft of my apprentice, and trusted advisor," He read the charges off smugly. "And treason against your emperor, Supreme Chancellor, and the Republic, or Empire, itself."
"You are no emperor!" Obi Wan yelled continuing his struggle against those holding him. If he could just get to his light saber...
"According to the Senate's votes, and a deep concern for the Republic's safety." He drew his own light saber out, for defense of course, and nodded to his clones to begin. "That is incorrect, Master Kenobi."
~*~

Pain flooded his senses as he slowly came to. There were forces still around him but they had all blended into one at some point. His COM link lay inches away from his stretched out bloody hand. He groaned as he tried to reach for it.
Palatine cackled softly, and walked off with his troopers, stepping on the com. as he went. It didn't appear to be broken though...
'No...' He thought hoping it wasn't broken. Every single part of his body hurt as he tried to move forward to get it. His fingertips brushed it and then it slid towards his hand. He thumb curled pressing the button that would contact R2D2.
The COM link flickered to life, it's screen flashing telling him he didn't have long, the screen was also cracked. A beep and whistle from R2 was the reply he got.
"...R2...et...Ana...kin...elp..." he managed before darkness claimed him.
~*~

Anakin was just lying on his bed, staring up at the ceiling and speaking softly to Padmé, when R2 came looking from him. He had to admit, he was rather irritated when he heard a knock on the door. Had Obi-Wan forgotten his key-card or something? Either way, he got up and went to see who it was, blinking in confusion when he saw who it was.
"Artoo? Is something wrong?" R2 beeped and whistled so fast that he almost couldn't understand, if he went any faster he was sure the little bot would have a circuit meltdown.
"Slow down," Anakin ordered after a couple minutes of this. "What about Obi-Wan?" R2 beeped again and replayed the message he had gotten from Obi Wan's COM link.
Anakin growled, and cursed, upon hearing that. He went back into his room, grabbed his light saber, put that on his belt, before going into Luke's room, grabbing him, and heading out the front door. First things first, put Luke in his nanny's hands. Once that was done, he set out trying to sense Obi-Wan and find him. Hopefully then, he'd be able to find out who did it. He didn't need to do much interrogating, once he got there, though. The entire area stunk of Palpatine.
"Artoo," he muttered darkly, upon arriving. "I need you to contact some medical droids, to get him to a hospital," he ordered very clearly. "Use remote contact methods, I need you to stay with him. And, be quick about it. I'll find you both later, right now I have some business to take care of." Like...going and beating the snot out of Palpatine, for one.
R2 beeped and rolled over to Obi Wan's unconscious form. He started to contact the nearest hospital. It wasn't long before they arrived and transported him to the hospital, alerting Yoda of the situation.
~*~

If Palpatine had been angry before...Anakin was livid, as he approached the Chancellor's office, he did a dandy job of hiding it, though, as he allowed the Redrobes to show him in.
"Good evening, Chancellor," he greeted, cloak hiding his light saber’s handle just fine. He didn't plan to lose this fight...he would avenge Obi-Wan, and get revenge for all that he and Padmé had gone through, because of this man.
Palpatine raised his eyes, surprised to see Anakin. He stood coming around his desk.
"Anakin my boy! It is so good to see you. It's been so horrible listening to the endless trash those remaining two Jedi have been feeding your mind with. I'm sorry I haven't been able to get you away from them," he explained.
"It's quite all right, Chancellor." Anakin nodded to him, with a polite, thin smile. "But, I'm afraid today's visit isn't a social call."
"Then do tell me to what honor I can owe the pleasure of this visit," Palpatine said.
"I fear...I'm not at all pleased with the way things have been going, Chancellor." Anakin admitted slowly, deliberately. "You see...you lied to me. You said I could save Padmé, but that wasn't true. I don't appreciate being lied to--nor do I appreciate the assault that you yourself committed against General Kenobi."
"Lie? But I have never lied to you my boy. General Kenobi? Has something befallen him?" The Chancellor questioned, although inside his heart had started to pound.
"You're lying again," Anakin stated, trying to remain seemingly calm. "The area around where I found him wreaked of you. You and your clones. And...honestly, I think assaulting a military official in an unfair, non-war related setting might be considered an offense." He reached down to his belt, and withdrew his saber, pushing the button to activate it, and brandishing the humming blue blade at the old man before him. "One worthy of execution, don't you agree, Chancellor?"
"I...I...I don't know what you're talking about..." Palpatine stammered backing away.
"I think you do know," Anakin corrected. "I defended you. I broke every rule the Jedi have, for you. And for Padmé, because you told me that you'd teach me to save her. But, you didn‘t. You took everything I hoped to have away from me, emperor. So, now, I'm going to take your own advice, and destroy you with it." A dark, feral smirk curled his lips, as he started forward. "All those who have power fear only to lose it," he quoted, advancing step by steady step. "Kill without mercy, pity, or hesitation." He stopped, his saber mere inches from Palpatine's chest. "I should have let Master Windu kill you, when he had the chance," he snarled angrily. "Give me one good reason why I shouldn't avenge him--avenge them all right now."
Palpatine's mouth opened and closed, he tried to make words come out but nothing did.
"I'm sure the Senate won't mind having you forcefully removed from office." he commented, raising his free hand up, and making a pinching motion in the air, like he had with Padmé, on Mustafar. He wanted Palpatine to suffer. To die slowly. Choking him seemed like a pretty good idea... "In the name of the Galactic Republic," His eyes met Palpatine's beyond the harsh, blue blade of his light saber. "I place you under arrest, Chancellor."
The Chancellor's hands went to his neck as he tried to release the force holding him. He gagged and choked trying to draw air into his lungs.
Anakin swallowed any emotions he was feeling, and made a quick slicing motion, with his light saber. Grim satisfaction flooded through him, as he watched Palpatine's head fall to the floor and roll away. He deactivated his light saber, and placed it back at his belt.
"Serves you right," he muttered darkly, "for messing with me." Then, he pulled his hood back up, and excited the room again without even so much as a glance at the Redrobes. He had to go check on Obi-Wan now.
~Hospital~
Master Yoda bowed his head in hopeful prayer. They had taken Obi Wan into surgery just before he got there and that is where he still was. A medical droid came out and reported his updated condition every 30 minutes.
"Master..." Anakin honestly hadn't expected Yoda to be there. "Is he alright?" Yoda raised his head and then shook it slowly.
"Look good things do not for Obi Wan," he answered sadly. Anakin frowned, and glanced around for a moment, as though expecting something to magically appear and sooth him. Nothing did. He couldn't even feel Padmé anymore...
"I killed Palpatine," he admitted softly. Just loudly enough for Yoda to hear, no one else. "I killed him for what he did."
"Sooner or later you would have I knew."
"He deserved it," he scowled at the wall. "The Republic and Order will both regain balance soon, now that he's out of power." Yoda nodded in agreement. A medical droid emerged from behind the surgery doors.
"Master Yoda... General Kenobi's condition remains unstable. He has lost much blood, poison seems to be in it as well," the droid told him before disappearing behind the doors again.
"Determined Palpatine was to be rid of us this time it seems," Yoda sighed. Anakin was silent for a moment, before turning and going after the droid.
"May I see him?" He requested, upon catching up. He would save Obi-Wan. He wouldn't lose anyone else.
"General Kenobi is in surgery right now Master Anakin. But yes, once he is out you may see him," the droid answered.
"But, I might be able to help!" Anakin insisted. "Please, I promise I won't get in the way." The droid paused.
"How would you be able to help?" It questioned.
"It's hard to explain," he muttered, waving impatiently in the air. "But, just trust me, and let me try?" The droid studied him for a moment.
"It is against my better judgment but follow me if you please," it answered.
"Thank you..." He breathed, obeying. When they got into the room, he just settled down into the corner, in the floor, and started to meditate. He didn't have the faintest idea what he was doing...but, he hoped to find Qui-Gon, in the force, and get assistance from him.
Pain... there was so much of it. It clouded his judgment, leaving him dazed and confused.
Anakin physically winced, when he felt that. And...he decided to skip Qui-Gon altogether, and just went straight to psychological persuasion.
‘Master‘, he spoke directly into Obi-Wan's mind. ‘Please don't give up. I killed Palpatine for you. So, you can't just die on me.’
'Ana..kin...?' Came the hesitated reply.
‘Yes.‘ He felt a surge of hope. ‘Yes, Master, it's me.’
'It's so dark...it hurts...I'm tired...so tired...'
‘Master, no. You can't do this to me. I won't lose you like I lost Padmé.’ He stated firmly. ‘I won't, you hear me? Master Qui-Gon wouldn't want you to give up.’
'Qui...Gon...I feel him...it's been so long...since we talked...'
‘Exactly. So, you can't give up, alright? The Republic needs you. The Order needs you. I need you!’
'...you? You need me?...'
Anakin made a frustrated noise. He hated admitting he was wrong...or in trouble, or anything like that.
‘Maybe...yes…’
'...Anakin...' Then the feeling of his presence disappeared.
‘Master?’ He physically blinked awake, and glanced at the man on the operating table. "Obi-Wan?" He wondered tentatively.
"Master Anakin, I need to ask you to leave," the medical droid that had brought him there told him.
"Is he going to be okay?" Anakin demanded to know, refusing to move until he did.
"I cannot be sure, but he has stabled some," the droid answered.
"Good..." He murmured, relaxing a little, and getting up to follow him out. Maybe he hadn't failed this time... Yoda looked up as he returned.
"Little stronger seems his energy," he said.
"Yeah..." Anakin agreed running his fingers through his now sweat damp hair. "Hopefully, that'll continue."
"Tired you are. Home you should go and rest."
"No." Anakin shook his head, sinking down into a chair. "Not until he's awake. I won't just sit by and lose him, like I lost Padmé." Maybe he could even keep working from out here...
"That you should not. Rest you should young Skywalker," Yoda told him.
"Yes, Master..." He hated how these Jedi always seemed to know what he was thinking...
"Power your emotions are Anakin, work you should on trying to hide them when the time is right," Yoda mused.
"Hiding them has always been a problem of mine."
"Good the time is now to work on that then."
"Very well, Master." He agreed, closing his eyes again. Seemed like as good a way as any, to start trying...
~The next morning~
Anakin was drawn out of his trance like state when he felt Luke and another energy approaching. He blinked at them, raising a curious eyebrow. What was Luke doing here? Larisa smiled softly, her cat ears twitching taking in every sound.
"Master Anakin, Master Yoda called and informed me of the situation. It was only then I understood why Luke had been crying and asking for Master Obi Wan," she explained.
"Oh..." Anakin nodded his understanding, concentrating for a moment, before smiling softly. "He's doing better now."
"That is good to hear," she smiled. Luke reached for Anakin.
"Da..." He reached up, and pulled the child down into his lap.
"I'm sorry about just dumping him on you," he informed Larisa softly. "I had some...urgent business to attend to, obviously."
"I do not mind Master Anakin. Luke is an angel," she answered, her tail swaying from side to side gently.
"Well...thank you, then." He nodded tiredly, slumping a bit further down.
"You look very tired Master Anakin maybe you should get some sleep."
"No." He groaned again. Didn't anyone understand how important this was? "Not until I know that Obi-Wan's going to be just fine."
"I'm sorry I didn't mean to upset you. What if I stayed here then, you could sleep here and I would wake you if there is any news," Larisa offered.
"No," he repeated, shaking his head. "I'll know. Then I'll sleep."
"Alright," she sighed in defeat. "But please do not run yourself ragged. I'm not sure Luke could take have both his fathers down. Come Luke, you didn't sleep much last night and need to take a nap." Luke nodded in understanding and hugged Anakin around his neck before raising his arms to Larisa. She scooped him up and licked the side of his face causing him to giggle.
"Take care of yourself Master Anakin."
"Right," he mumbled, his gaze slightly distant, as he started concentrating again. The medical droid from the night before approached he and Master Yoda again, like Anakin, Yoda had been meditating but his eyes opened when he felt the droid's presence. Anakin hadn't had a chance to get too comfy yet, and also glanced up at the droid.
"Obi-Wan?" He wondered, now sounding the least bit anxious.
"Master Kenobi has been moved out of surgery to a room. He is stable for now but it seems he slipped into a coma during the surgery. We have been cleansing his blood to remove the poison," the droid reported. Anakin cursed. Loudly. Loudly and violently. Well, that was just great.
"Where is he now?" He wondered. He was exhausted, he was frustrated, and Obi-Wan was working vigilantly on his last nerve.
"His room is number 877, it is on the second floor," the droid answered.
"Calm you should be," Yoda cautioned as he slipped from his seat.
"I am calm," Anakin muttered, nodding to the droid, and heading for the elevator. "I've never been calmer in my whole," he uttered a rather rude term, "life." This was a blatant lie, but he honestly could have cared less. Obi-Wan wasn’t doing this to him. Yoda walked with him saying nothing. When they got to the room, Obi Wan almost looked like a mummy there were so many bandages wrapped around him.
"Master!" Anakin snapped at him testily, probably a lot louder than he needed to. "Wake up! Right now!"
"Help your yelling will not."

"He's not doing this to me," Anakin stated. "You hear me, Obi-Wan? You're not doing this to me! You're not leaving me, like Padmé and my mother did! You're not!" He didn't have the energy to do this through the Force...
'Anakin.' It was a strong voice, not one that belonged to Yoda or Obi-Wan. Anakin could have started crying, from it all, but he just summoned some of his energy to reply.
‘Yes?’
'My padawan needs to rest as do you.'
‘Master Qui-Gon...Please...don't let him leave me, please?’
'I will not Anakin. But you must get some rest. You will be no help to him or your son if you collapse from exhaustion.'
‘Yes...you're right...I know you're right…’ He agreed, sinking slowly down to the floor. ‘I'm sorry...for being belligerent to him. And for yelling…’
'You do not have to tell me. Sleep now young one.' Anakin didn't bother to nod, he just closed his eyes against the side of Obi-Wan's bed, and fell asleep right there. Yoda smiled and used the force to move him to where he had laid out a blanket and pillow on the floor. It wasn't much but it would do. He covered Anakin with another blanket before sitting in the chair, where he to slipped into something between a meditative state and sleep.

Anakin drifted in and out of sleep, for the next couple of days. He kept hoping that Obi-Wan would be awake, next time he regained consciousness, but he never was. He hadn't known that what he'd been doing would be so exhausting...It was. Had he even been doing it right? Would that have been what Palpatine would have had him do with Padmé? Probably not. But...well, it had sort of worked with Obi-Wan...Kind of...
'You are doing well Anakin' Qui-Gon commented on the third night. 'Your master would be very proud.'
‘Did I do it correctly, Master Qui-Gon?’ He wondered absently, as he passed back off to sleep. ‘Did I do the right thing, by trying to reach him?’
'He would be lost without you. These dark places are easy to lose your way in, but you have kept a path of light open.'
‘Good,’ he mumbled to his master's master. ‘Because I need him. I need him to stay with me. Even just a little longer...I'm not ready to lose him yet.’
'Why is that Anakin? You were so determined to convince yourself that you needed no one but now here you are.'
‘Because he's my friend.’ The phrase came automatic, his mind completely honest, due to sleep. He didn't have the energy to lie yet. ‘And...because I don't want to lose anyone else. I need him.’ He could feel Qui-Gon smile, and his hand on his shoulder.
'Sleep now Anakin, actually sleep.'
‘Yes, Master Qui-Gon,’ He agreed, actually drifting off. Qui-Gon Jinn was the only man that Obi-Wan Kenobi would listen to, and obey, without fail. He trusted him to bring his master back to the land of the living safely.
Yoda smiled, it felt good to feel Qui-Gon once again. He to trusted Qui-Gon to bring Obi Wan back. Each day he could feel Obi Wan getting stronger and he knew it was because of Anakin and Qui-Gon's continuous presence.
Anakin woke up and actually...woke up a little after a week, after he'd fallen asleep. Obi-Wan didn't. But, now that he had energy left, he got back to work. He didn't try to convince Obi-Wan to wake up...just talked to him, and made sure he was still there.
'How is Luke?' Obi Wan asked. 'And yourself?' Always the concerned one.
‘Tired, but I'm fine.’ Anakin's body smiled slightly at Obi-Wan's responsible tone. ‘Luke's with his nurse...still.’
'You should go and see him. He has never been away from either of us this long.'

‘I know.’ He confirmed slowly. ‘But, I don't want to leave you. He knows I'm alright.’
'I appreciate your concern but I will not get lost in a few hours. Master Qui-Gon will make sure of that. Go see him Anakin.'
‘Yes, Master.’ He agreed with a sigh. ‘I'll go later today.’
'Now.' There was no room for argument in his voice.
‘Master…‘ He let a certain amount of poutiness into his tone. ‘You're important too!’
'I'm glad you feel that way Anakin but Luke is more important, yourself and he come before me. Now go.' Anakin let out a frustrated noise.
‘Fine.’ He bit out impatiently. ‘I'll be back later.’ Then, with that, he stood wordlessly, and stalked out of the room, completely ignoring Yoda, and the droids as he went. Yoda looked back at Obi Wan and actually chuckled.
‘Before yourself your loved ones always are.’
~*~

Anakin knocked impatiently, on Larisa's door, when he arrived back at the apartment complex. He wanted to see his son, make sure everything was alright, and get back to Obi-Wan! not stand in the hallway, banging like a hammer on this woman's door! The door opened revealing the feline woman.
"Master Anakin... I'm sorry. I wasn't expecting you, Luke will be most pleased," she said softly opening the door so he could enter.
"Yeah..." He muttered, slightly calmer. "I needed to check on him. But, I can't stay too long. Thank you for taking such good care of him."
"It is my pleasure. Come, we were just playing in the living room," she told him leading the way. Luke looked up from his blocks he had been building with, a excited smile coming to his face when he saw Anakin. Slowly he brought himself to his feet and took wobbly steps towards him. "He has become quite the little walker," Larisa commented with a smile.
Anakin grinned at the little blonde before him, and with a soft whirr of electro gears, knelt down to his height, ruffling his hair gently.
"Obi-Wan says he misses you," Anakin informed Luke, even though that wasn't entirely true. He knew his former teacher did, though.
"Ke!" Luke exclaimed understanding Obi-Wan's name. Anakin could feel the questioned in his mind wanting to be asked, but not yet able to.
"He's not awake yet," he admitted softly, just loudly enough for Luke to hear him. "But, he will. He'll be just fine." Luke smiled at that knowledge and sank against Anakin's knees, propping himself up.
"Da...mi Ke," he said. 'Dad misses Kenobi.'
"Yeah." He confirmed, his smile softened a little. "Yeah...I do..." Luke wrapped his arms about him as far as they could go.
'I miss you.'
"I'm sorry, kid..." Anakin murmured, pressing a soft kiss to the top of his head, and moving to pick him up. "Hey...how'd you like to go see Obi-Wan?" He wondered, smiling a bit more again. "I bet he'd like that." Luke smiled grew even bigger and he nodded.
"Larisa," Anakin called to her, as he adjusted Luke's weight, to pick him up completely. "I'm taking him back with me. But...he might be back tonight." Larisa bowed her head.
"I will be here Master Anakin."
"Thanks," he murmured, before setting back out for the hospital. Maybe Obi-Wan would wake up...if not for him, then for Luke...maybe.
~*~

When they returned a medical droid was in the room checking the stats and readings.
"How's he doing?" Anakin wondered, moving over to a chair, so that he could let Luke actually sit down.
"Master Kenobi seems to just be sleeping now. No longer is his mind in a comatose state," the droid answered.
"Good." A relieved smile broke out across his face. He hadn't realized how much he needed Obi-Wan, until this had happened...until he'd almost lost him...
"Ke..." Luke called reaching out for him. Obi Wan's eyes moved behind his closed lids but they did not open.
"If you want to talk to him," Anakin whispered in his son's ear. "I can teach you how." Luke looked up at him questioningly and then back at Obi Wan before he nodded.
"Alright..." His father murmured, still softly, as the droid left. He let out a deep breath, and placed his fingers on Luke's temples. "Just relax..." He figured he could use himself as a...liaison of sorts, and connect them. Luke closed his eyes leaning back against Anakin's chest waiting for the next instruction.
‘Master…’ Anakin spoke up, once he found Obi-Wan, in the Force. ‘Someone wants to talk to you.’
'Anakin? You're back so soon. Who?'
"Alright..." Anakin nodded slowly, speaking aloud, to Luke, again. "Go for it."
'Papa?' Luke questioned. Anakin could feel relief and happiness through their link.
'Luke,’ Obi Wan sighed.
‘I miss you papa. When will you be back with me and daddy?'
'Soon my lightling. Soon,' Obi Wan promised.
‘You're feeling better, Master.’ Anakin commented, his smile twitching slightly wider. ‘I can feel it.’
'Your light has brought me back. Thank you Anakin.'
‘Hey, don't feel too special.’ Anakin warned him dryly. ‘I'm being completely selfish. You're not allowed to leave me yet.’ He could feel Obi Wan smile before his presence faded as he slipped further into sleep. Luke made a small noise of compliant before opening his eyes looking up at Anakin.
“Dada?” He asked, calling him something other than 'Da' for the first time. Anakin opened his own eyes back up, and he glanced down at his confused son.
"He's just sleeping." He promised, just assuming that was what he'd needed. He felt Luke sigh and then curl into him, absorbing the warmth his chest offered. It wasn't long before he to was asleep, a small smile gracing his face.
Anakin snorted at them both, before shifting Luke into a more secure hold, and slipping into a regular meditation. He hadn't had time to think alone since Luke's birthday...it had been a while.

~2 hours later~
The first thing that came to mind even before he opened his eyes was a dull throbbing pain. Slowly he blinked, closing his eyes back and then opening them again. The brightness of the lights in the room hurt his eyes from where they had been closed so long. Turning his head slightly he had to smile when he saw Anakin sitting there in meditation and Luke still sleeping against him.
The slight...well, okay, not so slight, shift in the Force brought Anakin out of it, though. Apparently, he hadn't been as deep in his meditation as he'd seemed. When he saw the other's eyes open, though, it took literally all of his Jedi acquired restraint to not drop Luke, and go run over and hug him.
"M...Master...?" He stammered instead, worried that he might have fallen asleep, and was just dreaming. Obi Wan smiled at him as well as winced a bit.
"Hello Anakin." It looked like he might have smiled, for a moment, but that dropped down to a frown quickly enough.
"What took you so long? Do you have any idea how hard it is to try and use the Force for hours on end, like that?"
"I did not tell you to. And I needed some convincing to return," Obi Wan answered.
"But, you knew I would." He rolled his eyes a bit. "Come on, Obi-Wan. Even Master Qui-Gon tried to get me to stop."
"I know. We spoke. I was very worried for you, you could have hurt yourself Anakin," Obi Wan scolded.
"Could not have," he argued, and he had to resist the urge to stick his tongue out. "I know what I'm doing." That was a blatant lie..."I wouldn't have strained myself too much." Probably another blatant lie.
"Stop lying Anakin. After I recover I will tell you more about what you did," Obi Wan told him.
"I know what I did...I think." He frowned a little, another lie. He really should stop that... "I just used the Force, right? I believe the Chancellor would have called it a...'Jedi mind trick'?" Obi Wan closed his eyes for a moment pushing the throbbing pain, coming from somewhere out of his mind.
"There is more to it than that Anakin, you did something dangerous but something I am also thankful for." Anakin raised an eyebrow curiously.
"Are you going to tell me what that was?"
"After I recover." Was the answer.
"Let me guess." He smirked teasingly. "'Patience, Padawan'?" Obi Wan smirked.
"How did you guess?"
"Because, it's what you always say."
"Do you ever get truly tired of hearing it?" He asked.
"Well...no..." He admitted slowly. "But, from anyone else, I would." This caused Obi Wan to chuckle and suck in a breath. His ribs protested against the action.
"I want to bring Palpatine back to life just so I could kill him or watch you do it," he muttered.
"I killed him really well, for you," Anakin assured him, with a smug grin. "Choked him, then cut his head off."
"Good," he sighed.
"And, I scared him, too." Quoting your adversary seemed like a good way to do that... "Just for you. That you can feel special over." Well...he'd scared him for Obi-Wan. Half of that kill had gone toward avenging Padmé, too. Obi Wan smiled.
"She would be proud of you Anakin." His expression fell noticeably.
"No, she wouldn't be," he protested, moving Luke slightly. "She'd tell me I was letting me emotions get the best of me. Then she'd probably try to get me to get the Senators to sign some petition, or whatever, and get Palpatine to say he's sorry, or whatever 'diplomatic solution' she'd decided she liked that day..."
"Wouldn't be kind of hard to get him to say that he was sorry..."
"Don't tease my analysis, Master," Anakin ordered dryly. "It's noted and unappreciated."
"I wasn't. I was being serious."
"Uh huh..." He nodded sarcastically. "Rest up. You owe me an explanation. Soon."
"Would you do me a favor Anakin?"
"Depends on what it is." He conditioned dryly.
"Call a medical droid, to rest as you have ordered, I will need something for the pain I am currently trying to ignore," he answered.
"Sure." He confirmed, getting up, and setting Luke back down in the chair, then going out into the hall, to find that droid and get that done.
The droid was making it's rounds checking on the other patients when it felt Anakin approach.
"Master Anakin, can I do anything for you?"
"Obi-Wan's awake," he stated, with a small nod, to its question. "But, he's in a lot of pain. He needs some pain killers for that."
"Good good. I will return in a few moments with his medication," the droid told him.
"Thank you." Anakin bowed slightly to him, before returning to the room. "I found a droid that says it'll bring some medicine soon, Master," he informed the older man simply.
"Thank you Anakin," Obi Wan thanked him.
"No problem." He shrugged, going back over to his chair, and picking Luke back up. "I need you healthy."
"Looks like I will finally have time to do things I have been putting off," Obi Wan mused.
"Such as?" He wondered curiously.
"I must rewrite the rules of the Order, I would trust Yoda but he would just confuse everyone with his backward words. You need you're curtain still put up to your room. Start teaching Luke to speak better, he cannot use telepathy his whole life," Obi Wan answered.
"Fair enough," he admitted, with a snort. "Although...it might make his dating life easier to monitor..." He noted idly, but then just brushed that idea off. "What new rules did you have in mind?"
"I have to sit down and think about it, then it would be propose to Yoda who would then tell me what he would like changed, I would rewrite it and then you would read it to tell me what you as an outsider thought," he explained.
"Sure." He confirmed with a small nod. "But, as a small suggestion, you might want to cut out the whole 'no love' thing."
"That thought has already been brought to my attention." The medical droid entered carrying a needle that held the pain killer asked for.
"It is most pleasing to see you wake Master Kenobi," the droid commented.
"It's good to be back," he replied watching as the droid shot the medication into one of his IV's.
"Rest up, Master," Anakin advised, closing his eyes to get back to his meditation. "I'm going to interrogate you more later."
"Sounds like fun," Obi Wan said slowly as his eyes closed, the medication quickly putting him to sleep. Anakin decided it might be prudently to hold off on trying to find Obi-Wan again, in the Force, until he knew what he was doing. So, he did. He waited, and waited, and waited. For two solid weeks, he waited, until Obi-Wan finally deemed to explain.
"What you did is called Seeking. The Force allows you to contact someone who's mind is lost, they are still alive but just lost deep in the recesses of one's mind. The reason it is dangerous is because if you search for someone to far you can get lost yourself. It also uses bits of your own life force to make the search focus stronger," Obi Wan explained.
"Oh..." He blinked thoughtfully. "It worked, though." And, that explained why he'd been so tired, afterwards.
"It did but I would advise you not to do it again. As strong as you are Anakin, even the strongest of warriors can get lost Seeking. I did it once..."
"I can't think of an occasion I would need it again for, Master." Anakin pointed out mildly. "Can you?"
"I would hope you will never feel the need to," he replied.
"Exactly." Anakin nodded to him, with a small smile. "So, no worrying about me, Master. I really can take care of myself."
"I believe it Anakin but I cannot help but worry, I know. I have tried not to. It never works." Anakin snorted a little, and changed the subject.
"You're going to be discharged soon?"
"They haven't told me anything. My ribs have stopped hurting though so that is a good sign," he answered.
"Mmmhmm..." He nodded. Luke wasn't with him that day. He'd been growing bored with the hospital, so he was at home with R2 and Larisa.
"Have you gotten any jobs yet?"
"I wouldn't know," he admitted idly. "I've been here with you. And, not at home, to take any calls."
"I'm fine now. You cannot use me as your reason for staying," Obi Wan replied. Anakin rolled his eyes slightly.
"I'll go check today." He promised. "Soon, even."
"Good."
"It won't take long to catch up anyway." He shrugged a bit. "I'll check tonight, and if I have any, get to work tomorrow."
"Be..." he started to say 'careful' but at the look Anakin gave him he stopped. "Can I give you one piece of advice without getting an annoyed look from you?"

"Sure." He agreed, with a nod. "You were my teacher. Teach away."
"Do not repeat past mistakes." He didn't elaborate but then again he didn't need to. Anakin's eyes left him, and locked onto the floor.
"I'm not going to lose myself again, Master," he promised softly.
"That's good to know. I would not want to try Seeking you, at times I fear what lies in that mind of yours," Obi Wan said softly. He had his own fears about Seeking, if it were not for Yoda he would have lost himself one time when Qui-Gon had hurt himself badly, before they met Anakin.
"That...wasn't what I meant," Anakin admitted. "But, I promise not to do that either."
"I know Anakin, I just did not want to think of the other."
"I'm going to be fine, Obi-Wan." Anakin offered him a sincere smile. "I've seen the light, I've seen the dark. Having had both experience in both areas, the light's better."
"It's defiantly easier to see in," Obi Wan joked.
"Ha ha..." Anakin eyed him dryly. "You should be a comedian." Obi Wan smiled.
"Go check on your messages Anakin. I will call you if anything happens."
"Right, right." He nodded, getting up from his chair. It was probably for the best that he'd decided to be contracted...He'd never have the discipline to hold down a steady job, he realized, as he wrapped his cloak tighter around himself, against the chilly night air outside, and headed back for the apartment he and Obi-Wan and Luke shared.
As it turned out, there were several messages left for him. All from the same person, and each more irrationally irritated than the last. With a groan, Anakin finally hit the call return button, and waited to see if his customer would actually pick up.
"Cirainus Laure," came the agitated reply. Anakin examined the holo-scan blue ghost of this Cirainus Laure, and decided that it was, in fact, the same being.
"Anakin Skywalker," He informed him, almost idly. "You contacted me. Repeatedly." Cirainus growled.
"Where the hell have you been! If you damn mercenary's can't get the job done you ought to not offer your services!"
"I had a personal emergency that required my attention." Anakin brushed that off. "Just give me the target. I'll have it done within the hour." Cirainus studied his own blue image of Anakin.
"Sure of yourself you are..." Cirainus mused. "I like that. Alright this is what I want you to do..." He explained to Anakin in elaborate detail just how and to who he wanted these things done. Anakin listened patiently, before speaking.
"The Jedi Council couldn't tell me how to carry out my assignments." He informed the alien in an almost teasing tone. "I'll get it done, but just what makes you think you can?"
Cirainus studied him once again. "Never have I met one as you. Fine do as you see fit. Just get the job done."
"That's my only promise," Anakin assured him with a nod. "Was there anything else?"
"No. Once I have the notice that the job is completed your money will be sent to you," Cirainus replied.
"Fair enough." He agreed, before pressing the button that would end the transmission, and checking his light saber real quick, before setting out for the location he'd been giving. Then, all there was to do was wait. The Force would keep the target still, and his light saber would do most of the work. (Or, he could just choke him. Maybe he'd use his Jedi mind influence to make him kill himself...that would be fun...) Either way, the entire job should take about five minutes, once he got there.
~*~
Obi Wan stared out the window at the lights of the city, a pad of paper and pen lay on the table across his lap. Notes for the new Order's rules written on it.
~*~

And, completely unbeknownst to him, a few buildings away, Anakin was having a glorious time, with his job assignment. He'd decided to just play around with the Force for this one. He'd practice with his light saber next time. And, a few minutes later, he was heading back to the apartment, to inform Laure that it was finished.
"Good," Cirainus smiled, folding his fingers under his chin. "You will have your money within the next two days."
"See that I do," Anakin warned him pleasantly. "Because, I'm perfectly willing to hunt you down over it, if I need to." Then, he hung up again. It wasn't too late, he wanted to go back and brag to Obi-Wan a bit.

~*~

Obi Wan looked back around the room coming from his daze as he felt Anakin approaching.
"First job is completed." Anakin stretched idly, coming back into the room. "And pay is on the way from it."
"How was your first client? Rude as I hear they are?" He questioned.
"I have a feeling he would have been more polite, if I'd returned his call three days ago, when he started trying to reach me..." He decided, moving back over to his chair, and plopping down into it. "But, I finished quickly, so he seemed pleased enough."
"Good. Luke with Larisa again?"
"Yep," he confirmed, then turned a teasing eye into his former master. "Which reminds me...Papa?"
"Hm?" Obi Wan gave him his own questioning look.
"Luke. He called you Papa." Anakin reminded him with amusement. "Where'd that come from?"
"Oh... I really don't know. He just started calling me that, I think he really believes it just as much as he believes you are his father," Obi Wan answered.
"Well...that's all fine and well, but I actually am his father. So, it's not nearly as funny."
"You find it funny?" Obi Wan asked.
"Mildly amusing," he amended, still smirking slightly. "You strike me more as the uncle, than the father type."
Obi Wan shrugged. "I kind of like it," he mused.
"I never said you couldn't." Anakin shrugged a big, slumping into a sort of lounging position in his seat. "It's...cute...actually..." He frowned a little. It seemed like a bad choice of words, somehow...
Obi Wan laughed. "Cute?" He continued to laugh.
"Hey," he scowled at being laughed at. "No laughing. I'm supposed to be making fun of you." Obi Wan's laughed died down to a chuckle and then nothing except a smile.
"I'm sorry but what you said was funny. Why is it you always get on me when I laugh?"
"I don't," he muttered defensively. "I just 'get on' you, when you laugh at me."
"I don't laugh at you, just things you say... sometimes how you say them."
"It's the same difference." He shrugged a little, his moody outlook setting back in. "Don't you think you teased me enough when I couldn't defend myself against you?"
"Don't get upset Anakin. Please, you're more fun to be with when you're happy," Obi Wan sighed.
"Happy?" He blinked, turning his gaze back to him, raising a disbelieving eyebrow. "Happy? I haven't been happy since Padmé told me she was pregnant!" Obi Wan's expression fell.
"I'm sorry Luke and myself mean so little to you then," he said quietly and turned away.
"You're not Padmé." He shrugged, as though that should be explanation enough. "Even while she was still alive, I couldn't seem to make myself be happy, because I knew she was going to die..." He sighed, and shook his head. "So, I tried to stop it from happening. I wouldn't have gone to Palpatine at all, if the Council had granted me Mastership, so I could access the stupid archives..."
"I could have helped you Anakin. Had you only asked..."
"No you couldn't have," he offered Obi-Wan an appalled look. "I couldn't have told you! Be serious! I would have been kicked out of the Order, and you know she would have been removed from the Senate. That was the last thing she wanted."
"I would have done it for you Anakin," Obi Wan replied still not looking at him.
"Why?" He raised an eyebrow curiously. "Master Qui-Gon had no problem breaking the Code-you told me that once-but you always did. Why would you have broken so much of it for me?" Obi Wan could have burned a hole through the wall if he had that power. Finally he sighed, there was no turning back now.
"Because of what I told you on Mustafar." It was nothing more than a whisper.
"I thought Jedi weren't allowed to love."
"They are now," he answered pushing the pad of paper on the table towards him. Anakin read through the new rules with idle interest, move tossing it back at him.
"Very nice. I'm still not rejoining the Order."
"I wouldn't want you to. It would be to much to deal with."
"I'm not...cut out to be a good Jedi anyway," he muttered, with another shrug. "I couldn't follow the Code even when it was active...I broke it so much they're still trying to glue it back together." Obi Wan couldn't hide his smile.
"That is true." Anakin shook his head a little more, and got back to topic, before he could stray further.
"Why do you love me, Obi-Wan?" He wondered with almost professionally detached interest. "I've never done anything to deserve it, so why?"
"You're my opposite. Call me crazy but..." He couldn't bring himself to say 'it's hot' although he was thinking it.
"You actually believe that whole opposites attract thing?" Anakin raised his eyebrow further, incredulously. "Seriously?"
"My first crush was my opposite as well," he replied. Anakin was dead silent for several minute, and he didn't move at all. When he did speak again, it was fairly obvious he wasn't being entirely serious.
"Then why in the name of the Force did you chop me up?"
"I prefer slicing and dicing," Obi Wan smiled.
"No." His former padawan shook his head dryly. "No, that was defiantly chopping."
"You were going to kill me Anakin. I couldn't let you do that, you would have lost everyone you loved then," Obi Wan explained.
"I guess..." He agreed slowly, leaning his head back against the armrest, and closing his eyes. He was tired, but he kept talking anyway. "But, to be perfectly honest, if it weren't for you, I'm not sure I would have cared. The dark side does weird stuff to your mind."
"You should sleep Anakin. You won't be able to do your jobs if you're to tired," Obi Wan told him.
"Still tired from trying to find you," Anakin informed him absently, slowly obeying right there, sprawled out in the chair. He didn't care if it wasn't comfortable. "And...don't feel too bad...it's not your fault...I just don't remember how to be happy anymore..." He added groggily, before throwing his mental shields up, and falling asleep completely. Obi Wan smiled and slowly got up and pulled a blanket off the bed covering him.
"Sleep well Anakin," he whispered. The only response he got was mumbled out, barely audible. But, the basic effect was 'I love you too, Master'. Not that Anakin would admit it when he was awake, but more than half asleep, it was fine!
~*~
The next morning...
Anakin felt a firm yet gentle hand on his shoulder shaking gently.
"Anakin... wake up," Obi Wan called.
"Nnnargh..." Anakin groaned, but he did peek an eye open, after a moment, raising an eyebrow at the man leaning over him. "What?"
"I'm free to go, come on it'll be better to sleep in your own bed than in this hard chair." The other smiled down at him. Anakin grunted again, but as gracefully as he could, drew himself out of the chair, his spine popping uncomfortably, he ignored it though, and just followed Obi-Wan out the door.
Once back at the apartment Obi Wan saw the circles forming under his eyes.
"Go on and sleep. I will go get Luke," he told him.
"Yes, Master." He agreed without even thinking about it. It was far to early to be awake. Obi Wan watched him go up and then went to Larisa's.
"Master Kenobi, it's so good to see you out of the hospital. How are you feeling?" She asked with a warm smile.
"I am well, much better than I was. I've come to relieve you of Luke," he replied.
"Alright Master Kenobi. He's asleep right now, he's been sleeping a lot these past couple of days. I believe he may be coming down with something," she explained showing him to Luke's makeshift room.
"Thank you for the warning Larisa, we will watch him," he promised picking the little boy up. "Thank you again." She waved goodbye before closing the door.
Anakin slept for several more hours, after Obi-Wan returned. He hadn't even bothered to take his cloak, boots, or gloves off. He'd just collapsed onto his bed.
Obi Wan went to check on Luke, he felt his forehead and frowned at the light fever he had. Turning back he went to get some medicine for him.
"Wake up Luke... come on," he said quietly. Luke shook his head and slowly blinked at him.
'Papa?' Obi Wan smiled and nodded.
"Open up, this will make you feel better," he told him holding the spoon of medicine steady. Luke obeyed and then slipped back to sleep holding his teddy bear tightly.
"Something's wrong with him," Anakin stated from the doorway to the nursery, running his fingers through his sleep tousled curls.
"His first cold," Obi Wan confirmed.
"Do you have medicine for him?"
"Of course. I'm prepared for everything, haven't you learned that by now?" He questioned with a smile.
"Except getting tossed across the room, into a wall, and then having a large light fixture fall on you, right?" He raised an amused eyebrow, referring to their fight against Dooku.
"I was unconscious... couldn't do much," Obi Wan replied.
"I was just saying, you weren't prepared, right, my master?"
"Oh shut up." Obi Wan left the room to put the medicine up then, a small scowl gracing his face.
"Hey, if you're allowed to mock me, I'm allowed to mock you." Anakin shrugged, calling after him. "We could get so many sex games out of that Master and Padawan thing..." He noted absently, before turning himself and heading back to his room, to change into some clean clothes. Obi Wan stopped in his tracks and watched him, unbelieving of what he had just said before chuckling. And, Anakin was perfectly willing to completely ignore him, if he brought it up. He was the only one allowed to bring that up, he decided right then and there.
"Are you hungry?" Obi Wan questioned looking through the cabinets. 'I need to go to the market,' he thought.
"Mildly," he called back. "But, I'm more filthy. I need to bathe, and change, before I do anything."
"I'll cook something then while you shower. I took one while you were still asleep this morning," Obi Wan replied.
"Go for it." He waved slightly, as he passed by him, on the way to the shower. Obi Wan fixed something light since Anakin wasn't that hungry, it was ready when he came out from the shower.
"What would you like to drink?"
"Doesn't matter," he admitted. "Water's fine." Obi Wan nodded and gave him a glass.
"We need some things so I'm going out to the market, if I'm not back in 2 hours Luke needs to be given his medicine," Obi Wan told him.
"I take back what I told you, about being paternal," Anakin decided dryly. "You're more maternal, I think." Obi Wan sent him a glare and walked out. "Well, think about it!" Anakin called after him teasingly. "Taking care of the baby, and running around like a good little housewife. If I catch you trying to breast feed him, I'm having you mentally examined."

He was met with nothing but silence.
~*~
Luke woke up and started to cry, he was hot and it was hard to breathe. Anakin groaned, sensing his son's discomfort, and got up to go check on him. It seemed his medicine had worn off...
"Now," he muttered, going back into the kitchen to find the medicine. "Where did Papa put that junk?" After finding the right medicine he went to Luke's room. Luke continued to cry raising his arms up to Anakin.
"You want a hug?" Anakin raised an eyebrow at him, all but shoving the spoonful of medicine under his nose. "Drink up first." Luke took the medicine and then held his hands back up, sniffling. Anakin finally gave in, and picked him up this time.
"Alright, alright." He tried to make it sound like a bigger deal than it actually was. "You win." Luke smiled a little and tucked his head under Anakin's chin, falling back asleep almost immediately, his little hand keeping a tight hold on Anakin's shirt. He was never going to hear the end of this from Obi-Wan, Anakin noted absently, moving into his own room, to lay down on his bed. But, in all honesty, he couldn't care less.
Obi Wan returned an hour later, he put the food away so he would know where it was, since he did most of the cooking (because Anakin just couldn't cook). He also took out the long curtain he had gotten for Anakin's door and the rod. Quietly he walked down the hall and peeked in smiling. He knocked just to be polite. Anakin and Luke were both out to the world, though. Laying down on the bed, with his sleeping son had made sleep sound rather appealing to the former Jedi Knight, so he'd allowed it to claim him...again. As to not disturb them Obi Wan just set the curtain and rod inside the door. Turning he went back to the living room, putting on some soft music he sat to work more on the new Order rules.
~*~

"Obi-Wan." He heard Anakin speak up a few hours later, as he went past him, to put Luke back to bed. "I like the idea about allowing love, in the Order."
"So do I," Obi Wan replied not even looking up.
"That's just because you don't want to get yourself kicked out," his former padawan accused wryly. "I bet, if the situation was different, you wouldn't care one way or the other."
"The Order is my life Anakin, I have known nothing else since I was three. Had things been different I'm sure I would feel differently."
"I'm not sure we're talking about the same things."
"Probably not," Obi Wan agreed.
"I'm also not sure it matters," Anakin continued, coming back out of the nursery, and eyeing him. "Because, I'm fairly certain I don't love you. So, it doesn't really effect me." Obi Wan didn't answer, that hurt but he pushed it aside. Anakin's happiness came before his own. Even though...he still wasn't happy. Due mainly in part to, as he'd said before, he didn't remember how to be.
"I'm going out," he stated, when he got no reply. "I'll be back later." Then, he turned, grabbed his cloak, and left. Obi Wan watched him leave and stood stretching. Now was a good time as ever to put up Anakin's curtain.

When Anakin came back...there was something decidedly different about him than when he'd left. The way he carried himself...the slightly glazed look to his eyes...the slur to his tone, when he was forced to speak...that kind of stuff, which probably gave Obi-Wan a pretty good idea where he'd been...
"I put up the curtain to your room, you should go sleep it off," he said helping the swaying boy take off his cloak.
"Nnn..." Anakin shook him off, with a frown. "No." Obi Wan gave him a frown of his own.
"Why Anakin?"
"Why what?" He raised an eyebrow, blinking lazily at him. "Why I won't go to bed? Because I don't feel like it. Why I went drinking to begin with? Because you are infuriating, my master."
"What have I done to infuriate you so, please tell me," Obi Wan sighed.
"I don't want to feel this way about you!" He stated his hands fisting at his side, then unfisting, as he crossed his arms over his chest and stated pacing around. "You're not Padmé! You're not supposed to do this to me!" Obi Wan watched him a bit confused. He had never thought Anakin would admit anything about his feelings for others, drunk or not.
"It's driving me crazy..." He grumbled with irritation, mostly to himself. "I don't want this! I never asked for this! All I wanted my entire childhood was to grow up to be a good Jedi! So that I could go back home and free all the slaves! But, no! I had to go and fall in love and ruin everything! Now it's happening again, and I don’t want to deal with it!"
"Things are different now Anakin. If you still want to free the slaves I will do everything in my power to help you. I don't want you to hurt anymore than you already have."
"Mom's dead." He shook his head, still pacing in agitation. "There's no point now. I wanted to free her."
"What about the others? You could do it in memory of her, I'm sure she would like that," Obi Wan suggested, wishing he would at least sit down. At this rate he was going to pass out in the middle of the floor.
"Should go kill Watto, for not freeing her, that's what I should do..."
"He sold her to a good family."
"Oh, give me a break." He rolled his eyes, biting back the urge to punch something really hard. "You never met him, you don't know what it was like."
Obi Wan was quiet for a few moments, he couldn't think of anything to say to dissuade him from that.
"Please... please don't..." he finally whispered.
"Don't what?" He turned angry eyes onto him, pausing in his pacing for only a moment, as he waited for a reply.
"Don't kill him."
"I wasn't really going to..." He shook his head a little. "It'd take too long to get back to Tatooine, for something that trivial."
Obi Wan sighed in relief, he was getting tired of all this blood shed.
"It's still not fair though," he added, once again raging to himself. He really needed a punching bag...or something to that effect...
"There rarely are things that are," Obi Wan replied.

"Yeah, but falling in love supposed to be good," he scowled, his brows furrowed. "This time it's just irritating..."
'It was for me. Both times,' Obi Wan thought smiling a little. Anakin continued like that for several minutes, before he turned to Obi-Wan and, still frowning, barked out a single order.
"Kiss me." Obi Wan blinked at the sudden order.
"Anakin. You're drunk. I will not take advantage of you that way," he stated.
"Just do it." He growled, and odd little glow lighting up his eyes. It wasn't the dark side, though...they weren't actually glowing. Just bright. "Do it now."
"No Anakin. You do not know what you are saying," Obi Wan told him and turned away.
"Yes, I do." He insisted, his tone taking on a new level of shaking too. "You're not the first person I've kissed. Just do it."
"I will not Anakin. It wouldn't be fair... to you or to myself."
"Do it, or I'll kiss you."
"I will not repeat myself again Anakin."
"Don't think I won't do it, old man," Anakin warned him, already striding forward toward him. "Because I will."

Obi Wan kept his back turned doing his best to ignore him.
"Coward," Anakin accused dryly, walking around him, so that he was actually facing him, and grabbing his shoulders so that he couldn't turn away again. Then...he did it. Oh, he really did it. A long deep kiss.
Obi Wan's eyes were wide and he tried to push away for a moment before the feeling went to his head. His eyes closed and he allowed himself to kiss back, a soft moan escaping him. Anakin let the kiss run itself dry, before pulling back. When he did, he looked more annoyed than ever, and let loose a curse that would make even the foulest sailor blush like a little girl.
Obi Wan slowly opened his eyes and looked at him, he flinched when Anakin shifted again, a action he couldn't control. An annoyed Anakin usually meant something was going to get hit... and right now the closest thing was him
Anakin managed to settle for kicking a chair, though. He'd been afraid of that...it sucked! He didn't want to be in love again!
"I'm sorry Anakin," Obi Wan said quietly and retreated to Luke's room where he felt the boy waking up.
"Should have drunk more..." Anakin grumbled under his breath, as he headed for his own room. "Maybe then I would have passed out before I could do something so stupid, as to try and see if I was right or not..."
Obi Wan gave Luke his medicine and did his best to clear his congested little nose and chest using the Force.
"I'm an idiot Luke... how could I allow myself to fall for him?" He whispered.
~*~

For the next few days, Anakin put out a rather distinct effort to avoid Obi-Wan. They didn't run into each other for almost a week. He left early, and came home late. And, when they did happy to meet, it was only because Anakin happened to be taking a call from a client, and couldn't really leave the room.
Obi Wan caught him one day at one of those moments. He waited until Anakin finished the call before speaking.
"Luke's finally getting over his cold, he still has a bit of a fever. I have to go to the Temple. I'll probably be back late," he said and left the room so they wouldn't have to say more.
Anakin made a frustrated noise, but just grabbed his light saber, cloak, and baby, to drop him off at his baby sitter. That way, they could both do their job. This client had made it perfectly clear that it had to be completely right away.
Obi Wan grabbed the pad he had been working on the rules in and his cloak leaving right after him.
~*~

~Luke's 2nd Birthday~
Obi Wan set everything up and then went to Anakin's room, he knocked as always even though right now the curtain was open. He waited to speak until Anakin looked at him.
"Today is your son's 2nd birthday so can we please put aside everything of these last few months and just have a good day for him?" He asked. Anakin thought about that for a moment, before nodding simply.
"You haven't talked to me either." He pointed out softly, rolling off the bed, to go find Luke, and do that.
"You haven't wanted me to," Obi Wan replied, he didn't need to read Anakin's thoughts to know that.
"Hush," Anakin muttered, with a shrug, as he continued to search the apartment for his now two year old.
Luke was quiet the walker now, no put of the apartment was safe. He was also talking, not just baby chatter anymore. His first real word had been 'Two' for R2D2, he and the little droid seemed to have a great connection.
"He was in the living room," Obi Wan said as the doorbell rang and he went to answer it.
"Thanks," Anakin murmured, and headed in there, keeping half an ear out to see if he could hear who was at the door.
"Wan!" The little girl's voice exclaimed and Obi Wan had to smile.
"Hello Leia," he said and took her from the senator's arms. They had agreed after the first birthday to make it a tradition to get together on the children's birthday. "Welcome Bail, where is your wife?"
"Feeling a bit under the weather I'm afraid. She sends her best wishes to you, Anakin and Luke," Bail answered.
"Sounds like your sister's here," Anakin murmured to Luke, upon finding him. "Are you excited to see her again?" He certainly was.
"Sister!" Luke smiled and got up going for the voices he heard. Anakin shook his head in amusement, before following him.
"Hello, Senator Organa," he greeted, nodding his head politely at him.
"Greetings Anakin. You are looking well. Ah! And hello Luke, my but you've grown!" Bail smiled down at the little boy.
"Brother!" Leia cried reaching down for him.
"She's grown a lot too," Anakin commented softly, watching his children interact.
"Almost to fast," Bail replied as they went to the living room.
"Dad!" Leia smiled walking over to Anakin.

"Hi," Anakin grinned at her, kneeling down to her height. "Missed you."
"Miss you," she repeated and gave him a kiss on his forehead. Anakin blushed a little, but his smile softened a little, and he just ruffled her hair.
"We might have to get together more often, when you get older then, hm?"

"Together," she smiled.
"What do you think, Luke?" He turned to his son. "Want to see her more often?"

"Together!" Luke agreed. Obi Wan smiled and stood going to the kitchen, Bail followed to see if he could help.
"You seem distracted my friend," he commented as they got the food ready.
"I've been tested very heavily these last few months," Obi Wan said brushing it off.
"Anything I can help with?" Bail asked concerned. Obi Wan chuckled.
"No. This I must find the answer myself," Obi Wan answered. Anakin kept his promise, and made sure the day was pleasant for Luke. However, when Leia, and Senator Organa left, he headed toward his room, murmuring something about trying to find Padmé. Obi Wan put the tired little boy in his bed and stayed until he was asleep before retreating to his own room.
~*~
A presence greeted Anakin, although it was not Padmé, not was not one he could ignore either.

‘Good evening, Master,‘ Anakin greeted Qui-Gon pleasantly, when he figured out who it was. ‘I trust you've been fairing well? Or, as well as can be expected…’
'I would be fairing better if it were not for the warring emotions that are raging in these spaces,' Qui-Gon replied.
‘It's not all my fault, Master.’ Anakin felt the need to point out. ‘I didn't ask for any of this.’
'And so you are putting all the blame on my padawan?' Qui-Gon questioned.
‘No.’ He shook his head. ‘Not all of it. Just...some.’
'Well what you are putting on him must be very trying. I can sense his exhaustion of your expectations of him. It hurts him deeply that you will not speak with him,' Qui-Gon stated.
‘He hasn't tried, Master,’ Anakin reminded him. ‘He's supposed to be my superior. Whether I feel comfortable or not about it shouldn't make any difference. If he wants to talk to me, why hasn't he?’
'Unlike many other Masters would Anakin, Obi Wan respects you. He allows you to sort through things yourself. The people of Obi Wan's race are very keen to emotions, these senses make it very difficult for them to express themselves to those with raging emotions,' Qui-Gon explained.
‘He's not human?’ Anakin raised an eyebrow through his meditation. ‘I was always under the impression that he was.’
'There is much you do not know about Obi Wan, Anakin. You've never taken the time to learn.'
‘He was my teacher. He never let himself be much more.’ It was true, he'd considered Obi-Wan his best friend for a while, but...obviously that was incorrect. ‘He's not Padmé, Master. I don't want to be in love with anyone except her, and the fact that I am is killing me.’
'She would want you to be happy Anakin. If this is not what you want then tell him so that he can lock it away and you won't have to keep dealing with this,' Qui-Gon advised.
‘I don't know how to be happy, anymore…’ He physically let out a frustrated noise. ‘I used to...I think...but so much has happened since then...I'm not sure I would be able to recognize 'happy', if it smacked me with a light saber hand grip.’
'I can believe that because there have been times when you have been happy. I can feel it,' the other told him.
'You are happy when you don't let your guilt rule your judgment Ani.'
‘Padmé…’ Well, there was that guilt she was talking about. He felt like he was drowning in it... ‘How can I let myself love him, when I still love you?’
'I love you to Ani but right now we cannot be together. You should try to listen to your emotions at times when you have nothing on your mind,' she said.
‘Oh, I know what my emotions are telling me,’ he snorted slightly. ‘I just don't like it.’
'But you should. He loves you almost as strong as I did if not the same.'
‘I feel like I'm...betraying you...And, after all we went through to be together...it doesn't seem fair…’
'You can't betray me if I approve,' she stated.
‘Up until now, I didn't know you did,’ He reminded her dryly. ‘It's what happens when I only hear from you once a year.’
'I'm sorry Ani. These passages don't open often enough,' she replied sounding sad.
‘I miss you…’ He met her sadness tenfold... If he weren't Anakin Skywalker, he would have been bawling his eyes out by now. He felt a warm embrace come over him from behind.
'I miss you too Ani.'
‘If I do this...will you come see me more often?’
'I will try.'
‘Thank you...And you, Master.’ He sighed. He really didn't want to leave them... ‘Padmé, Luke and Leia are doing well.’ He could feel her smile.
'Of course. They both have good people taking care of them,' she replied.
‘I'll try to find you both again,’ he promised slowly. ‘But...I should probably take care of this now.’
'That would be a good idea,' both agreed.
Anakin opened his eyes, and let out a frustrated sigh. This was going to be a pain, he realized, as he crawled off the bed, to go find Obi-Wan. Maybe he'd still be up...
The apartment was dark, no lights came from any room showing all occupants had gone to bed. Or...he might have to wake him up. That might be better anyway...it might make it easier, if he was half asleep...
The curtain closing off his room was halfway open in case Luke started to cry and he needed to get up. Obi Wan had gotten in a fight with the curtain before. Obi Wan's form was turned away from him as he slept.
"Master," Anakin called to him through the dark. "I need to talk with you, Obi-Wan." Obi Wan blinked slowly as his mind woke up. He turned sitting up, the sheet pooling at his waist. He rubbed his eyes tiredly.
"Well come in, unless you want to talk to the curtain," he replied. Anakin obeyed slowly.
"I just spoke with Master Qui-Gon...and Padmé..." He informed his groggy master slowly. "And, they're both very concerned about our current...situation."
"Doesn't surprise me," Obi Wan said quietly.
"Padmé told me...that she doesn't mind...how I feel about you..." He continued, running his fingers through his hair. It was remarkably less effective with durra-steel hands...
"Really? That's...interesting."
"She actually approved," he confirmed with a small nod, that Obi-Wan certainly couldn't see through the dark. "Qui-Gon did too."
"But do you? That is all that matters to me," Obi Wan told him.
"I suppose so." He nodded thoughtfully. "She really was the only reason I wouldn't."
"I'm glad then Anakin." Anakin murmured something to himself in Tatooinen, something he obviously didn't want Obi-Wan to understand. Then...he just went forward, and crawled into the older man’s bed, feeling through the dark until he could kiss him. It was just as deep, and lengthy as the last time, but this time he didn't break into curses when he pulled away. Had it not been dark he would have seen Obi Wan's deep blush.
"Thank you Anakin. Would... would you like to sleep here?"
"Mmhmm," he confirmed, settling down next to him. Obi Wan smiled and lay down, facing Anakin. His eyes soon became heavy and it wasn't long before he was asleep again.
‘Thank you, Padmé, Master…’ Anakin sent out into the Force, and trusted them to catch it, before falling asleep himself. He could feel warmth buzzing from his sleeping bed partner. It wasn't too long, before he was asleep himself.
~The next morning~
"Daddy!" Luke called after waking. Obi Wan chuckled softly without opening his eyes.

"Yes?" Anakin called back, rolling out of bed, and tugging his shirt on, that he'd dropped by the bed side before falling asleep the night before. "What is it?"
"Bad dream..." Luke replied.
"Oh?" He leaned against the wall to his son's room. "What about?"
"Bad tings... lots of fire."
"Fire?" Anakin echoed, with a frown. "I'm sure it was just a dream. But...just out of curiosity, what other things?" Luke shook his head.
"Saw Daddy and Papa...fighting."
"Oh..." He frowned, and wondered how to explain that. Mustafar... "That was real...but it was a long time ago. You don't need to worry about it."
"Ok. Daddy?" Luke asked.
"Yes?" He raised an eyebrow at him, speaking around a yawn.
"Me hungry," Luke told him. Anakin snorted helplessly at him. That was quite a change of mood.
"Let's see what we can do about that," He suggested, going over to help Luke out of bed. "Did you enjoy seeing Leia, yesterday?"
"Yes. Sister friend," he answered as they walked to the kitchen, hand in hand. Obi Wan smiled as they came into the kitchen. He held a cup of coffee in his hand, a pan of oatmeal was already cooking on the stove.
"Coffee Anakin?" He asked. Anakin said a silent prayer of thanks, before nodding quickly.
"Yes..." He murmured, happily accepting the cup. He'd have to tell Obi-Wan about Luke's little 'dream', once the boy was out of the room. Obi Wan finished the oatmeal and then put some in a bowl with some favored cream in it.
"Be careful it's hot," he told Luke who nodded and picked up his spoon blowing on the steaming goo. "Would you like some to? There's plenty?" He looked at Anakin as he asked.
"No food." Anakin shook his head a little. "Too early." Obi-Wan should have remembered that...his former padawan was honestly a little surprised he hadn't.
"Just offering, you didn't eat much yesterday. Well I must get to the Temple and see what things Master Yoda has planned for me today," he told them both. He ruffled Luke's hair and was tempted to kiss Anakin, the boy had amazing lips, but he wasn't sure if he should in front of Luke.
"Obi-Wan." Anakin glanced up at him. "Before you go, I need to talk with you alone." Obi Wan raised an eyebrow but nodded.
"Eat your breakfast Luke, Daddy will be back in a few minutes," Obi Wan told him and they walked out of the room. Once they were in the hallway, Anakin leaned against the wall tiredly.
"He had a vision," he stated into his palm. "About Mustafar." He had been hoping that visions wouldn't be one of the 'gifts' Luke had inherited from him. Evidently, any gods out there hated him. Maybe this was the Force's punishment for him, for being bad. "A very detailed one."
"Really? That's amazing for one so young. But of all the things... I wonder why he saw that," Obi Wan mused.
"I was having Force visions, at his age." Anakin shrugged. "I'd say, it's because he's constantly around us."
"Possibly. What do you think we should do?"
"I don't know," he admitted. "He wanted an explanation, I think. I didn't give him a real one yet, though."
"Do you really think he needs to know about that just yet? Personally I would prefer to see if he had another vision about it, if he did then we could tell him... if not then he goes on thinking it was just a nightmare until we tell him different right?"
"He already knows it's real." Anakin nixed that. "But, I told him not to worry about it."
"Then how do you want to handle it?" Obi Wan questioned.
"I don't know!" He repeated in frustration. "If I knew, I wouldn't be asking."
"I can't tell you what to do Anakin, if you want to explain everything in great detail to a two year old then be my guest," Obi Wan retorted.
"I wasn't planning on using great detail..." He muttered defensively. "I was wondering if you thought I should explain at all."
"I don't, personally I don't think in years to come he would remember. You might as well just wait and tell him when he is old enough to understand," Obi Wan told him.
"Works for me." He shrugged, and nodded. Then, a devious little grin appeared on his face, and he pulled Obi-Wan close, giving him a kiss. "Have fun at work, Papa," he teased, upon pulling back.
Obi Wan chuckled and leaned forward again giving him a heated kiss of his own before pulling away and walking for the elevator.
~*~

"I'm back," Anakin announced, upon returning into the apartment. Luke looked up at him, his face covered in oatmeal. He smiled brightly, as some oatmeal dripped from a long strand of hair.
"Did you throw your head in the bowl?" Anakin questioned him in bemusement. Apparently, Luke was getting a bath.
"Yummy!" He announced.
"Well, glad you enjoyed it," his father informed him. "Because, now you get a bath. Here's hint, use the spoon next time," he advised, shooing Luke off toward the bath.
"Awwww! No bath!" Luke complained.
"Little boys who dirty their hair must get cleaned up," Anakin informed him. "You want to be a Jedi, when you get older, right? Jedi always have clean hair." This was a lie. Most Jedi, who kept their hair, kept it in a sweaty mess. He certainly had, most of the time. Obi-Wan was the only one he knew who managed to avoid that, without shaving it off, as Mace Windu had.
"I be Jedi?" Luke asked looking up at him in wonder.
"Mmmhmm." He nodded. "Papa and Master Yoda are working on rebuilding the Order. I'll let you train to be one, if you want." Luke clapped happily and ran to the bathroom then. He wanted to be just like his Papa and Daddy. Something occurred to him then and he turned to Anakin pulling his shirt over his head.
"How come Daddy isn't a Jedi?"
"I used to be..." He admitted slowly. "But, your mother was more important to me. So, I left the Order." This was true. Just not the whole truth.
"Were you good Jedi? You still have saber," Luke questioned.
"Arguably, the best," he admitted, blushing lightly. His ego was stroked, but he didn't particularly enjoy bragging. "I think I might have a couple of the HoloNet reports recorded, if you'd like to watch them, later?"

"Yay!" Luke then climbed into his bath and let Anakin wash out his hair.
~*~

Anakin showed them to him, and time continued to pass. Days turned into weeks, weeks into months, months into years. Luke eventually forgot about his dream about Mustafar, but Anakin didn't. He never did bring it up, though. When he was old enough, Luke did join the Order, as a Padawan. A rather skillful one, too. Luke was about twelve, by this point, and Anakin was annoyed.

It was late, Luke was late, and he definitely wasn't supposed to be tonight.
"Luke!" He called, as he approached the room in the Temple where he had a high suspicion that his son would be, with his master no less. And, he was correct. What he was wrong about was that Luke was in a group class, not alone this time. Well...he hadn't meant to interrupt...
Master Obi Wan Kenobi gave him a half annoyed glance, well there went his students concentration for the day.
"All right everyone, you're dismissed but remember you have practice at 9 in the morning," he told them. Each student stood and bowed to him, he bowed in return and watched as they left talking excitedly. Anakin ignored Obi-Wan's irritation, however, in favor of his own.
"You didn't tell him you were grounded?" He raised an eyebrow at the blonde child remaining in the room. "And, thus having a set time to be home by--which you broke by a good two hours?" Luke bowed his head, trying to hide a mischievous smile.
"Luke, you're grounded? What did you do this time?" Obi Wan questioned. This was the sixth time in three months.
"Tried to steal my light saber to play with," Anakin supplied dryly. "Again." Now, normally, this wouldn't have been such a big deal. But his light saber was a custom job, that he'd done himself, and was significantly more powerful than Luke's padawan saber was. Thus, this was rather dangerous.
"Luke we've talked about this. You know you're not to take Anakin's light saber without his permission or without his or my supervision. You're already grounded but because you didn't tell me I'm going to have to ground you from practice tomorrow morning," Obi Wan told him.
"But!" Luke protested in horror.
"No buts," Obi Wan replied firmly.
"Yes Papa," he sighed.
"And what do you say to Anakin?"
"I'm sorry and I won't do it again."
"Uh huh." He nodded, crossing his arms over his chest, and smiling slightly. He didn't believe him--it was the same thing he'd said for the last five times. "Sorry for interrupting your class." Anakin turned his full attention to Obi-Wan. "But, I felt seeking him out was a worthy cause."
"I understand but next time be a little more quiet, it's hard enough to keep these kids attention. Say, would you like to come in and help me give a demonstration with the light sabers tomorrow?" Obi Wan asked as they headed home.
"That's no fair! Daddy would get to teach everyone else but not me!" Luke exclaimed.
"I can teach you at home." Anakin brushed that off. "When you're not grounded for breaking one of the few rules I've set for you." Then he turned back to his friend, and freely admitted lover. (For several years now.) "Sure, I'll do it." He nodded. "I never had a padawan. Training them might be fun." Luke crossed his arms over his chest, pouting. Sure, Anakin could train him at home but then he couldn't show off to his friends.
"Alright. The padawans have heard the 'Skywalker' stories, the good things for now. You'd be surprised that you are some of their idols," Obi Wan laughed.
"You told them the Skywalker stories?" Anakin offered him a rather horrified look. He hated playing poster boy...And, these children would be far too young to care about his betrayal. "What possessed you to do that?"
"I didn't say a word. Other people have though, and of course when asked I must tell the truth," Obi Wan answered.
"I take it you kept the Jedi Don't Lie, rule," Anakin noted idly, before turning to Luke. "Head home, kiddo," he ordered. "We'll be there before long."
"It sets good morals," Obi Wan said as he watched Luke walk back toward the apartment, his head down kicking invisible rocks. "He needs a haircut." Anakin snorted helplessly.
"Yes," he agreed. It was getting long...soon, the Padawan braid would be quite meaningless, as the rest of it was catching up with it. "You always kept mine short."
"And we will have to his once we cut it this time," he agreed.
"Isn't that what you said last time?"
Obi Wan smiled. "You're supposed to make me do these things."
"Hey." Anakin shrugged with amusement. "You're the adult." Well...technically, he was an adult too. But, he'd never admit it. It made him feel old. Obi Wan leaned over and kissed him.
"You're so cute when you're amused," he stated laying his forehead against Anakin's. Anakin moved his arms, to wrap around Obi-Wan's neck. He was such a flirt.
"I think you're just cute." But, Anakin could flirt too. Obi Wan smirked and pressed him up against the wall of the building kissing him again, but harder this time. He let the Force brush through Anakin's hair before moving lower and pressing against the rather sensitive area.
"Obi-Wan," Anakin hissed in agitation. "Not here. I know you changed those rules, but I don't think Yoda will appreciate us...soiling the Temple floor." Obi Wan chuckled and stepped back.
"Home then?"
"Mmhmm." He nodded, looking a bit relieved. "Need to make sure Luke made it anyway."
"You're right," Obi Wan agreed. Together they walked out of the temple heading home. Luke had made it, but he suffered through several subtle, not-quite berating from his father, before shooed off to bed.

Obi Wan was slowly changing into his night clothes after saying goodnight to Luke when he felt Anakin approach him from behind. He was content to ignore him for the time being as Anakin did the same from time to time, it only heightened their fun.

Anakin lightly ran the tips of his dura-steel fingers around Obi Wan’s waist smiling slightly as Obi Wan shivered.

“You seriously can’t think that after that… interesting… display at the temple… I would just let you go to bed… without getting you back, now would you?” He questioned idly kissing his neck.

“Actually… yes. It was a long day,” Obi Wan answered with a smirk. He could feel what he had done to Anakin poking him in his lower back. Anakin growled in his ear before turning him so that they were facing each other. His arms wrapped around Obi Wan’s neck pulling him close, placing a harsh kiss against his lips.

“I don’t think so,” he replied once he’d pulled away. Anakin pushed him back to the bed waiting for him to lay down before laying on top of him, he returned to his kissing. Obi Wan moaned and shifted beneath him, bringing them, if possible, even closer. He slipped his hands over Anakin’s chest before pushing slightly. Anakin pulled away looking at him questioningly.

“I started this… and I’m going to finish it,” Obi Wan told him before flipping their positions. Anakin smirked at him before his eyes closed in pleasure as Obi Wan started to kiss his neck slowly trailing his way down his neck to his bare chest.

Anakin had learned soon after he had learned that Padme approved of their relationship that Obi Wan was an excellent lover. It was a bit hard to understand since the Jedi swore off emotion, but he also wasn’t complaining. A moan escaped his lips as Obi Wan’s tongue circled his nipple quickly bringing it to a hard little nub, the other becoming the same under the administrations of his hand.

“You’re a…tease… you know… that right?” Anakin questioned before a hiss escaped him as Obi Wan’s free hand went to the junction between his legs and applied just the barest amount of pressure. He started to squirm as Obi Wan stroked him through his pants, cursing himself for not taking them off before this.

Obi Wan raised his head from Anakin’s chest, his eyes meeting with those barely tainted blue orbs which were now alight with desire.

“Would you have me any other way?” He questioned increasing the pressure his hand pressed against Anakin’s erection. Anakin only shook his head, unable to make words at the moment. “Would you like me to stop being a tease as you put it?” A nod and Obi Wan chuckled coming up to kiss his lips. “What am I Anakin?”

“M-master…” Anakin gasped arching into him. Obi Wan let out his own hiss at this action. He quickly moved so that now he was on his hands and knees looking down at him, Anakin let out a noise of protest but it was cut short as Obi Wan’s hands went to the edge of his pants and started pulling. Anakin raised his hips to help him, another hiss coming out as the fabric was pulled away from his throbbing erection exposing it to the cooler air outside. Before Anakin could do anything else to express his pleasure or displeasure, he had to bite down on his lip to keep from crying out. His fingers burying themselves in Obi Wan’s hair as his lover took him far into his mouth.

Obi Wan smirked at his reaction and hummed around the throbbing shaft in his mouth. Anakin’s head moved from side to side as he gasped. One of Obi Wan’s hands went to his hips to hold him down. The other however went under him to start readying him for what he knew would happen later. First one finger…then another…one last one…

‘How does it feel Anakin?’

Obi Wan made another noise around the shaft, moving his mouth faster. He heard Anakin gasp before shots of warm liquid filled his mouth. Continuing to suck he cleaned Anakin’s member off and then raised up smiling at him.

Anakin panted but also smiled. The love in Obi Wan’s eyes never ceased to amaze him. His gaze returned to Obi Wan’s body, he could feel his own desire pressing into his thigh.

“It is not fair my Master,” he stated.

“What is not?” Obi Wan questioned. Anakin’s hand drifted to his lover’s pants.

“That you still wear so much when I am exposed to you,” he answered. Obi Wan chuckled and quickly removed his own pants. Anakin’s eyes never left him, he could feel himself hardening all over again. Although none could compare with Padme in his mind, especially a man, he had to admit that Obi Wan came pretty close.

Obi Wan kneeled over him again, kissing him softly as he raised one of Anakin’s legs, to make this easier. They had done this so many times now his caution wasn’t really needed but he did it anyway out of love to Anakin. He sunk himself into Anakin in one swift thrust, Anakin was careful to not let the sharp points of his hands dig to far into his shoulders.

Anakin wrapped his legs about Obi Wan’s waist raising to meet each of his thrusts, his erection came back full force at the friction caused between their bodies.

“Ahh…Obi…” Obi Wan brought his hand between them stroking Anakin’s renewed erection. A couple of slow strokes and then a few fast ones and he was there.

“Anakin…” One final thrust and he let himself go. The feeling of warmth that flooded through Anakin brought him over the edge. One of his hands slipped behind Obi Wan’s neck and brought him down for a kiss as they both basked in the feeling of their recent releases. Obi Wan brought himself to lay beside him, Anakin turning with him as to not break the kiss until they both needed air.

Finally it broke leaving them both panting. Obi Wan slipped his arms around Anakin’s waist getting as close as he could. They were both quiet for a few moments, the only sound in the room was their heavy breathing.
"They really all know about the Clone War stories?" Anakin wondered, once they were finished, running a cool, durasteel finger up and down Obi-Wan's chest.

"I think so," Obi Wan sighed holding him close.
"Well, great," he sighed. "Nothing like a demand for story time, to set off a good demonstration." Obi Wan chuckled and kissed his forehead.
"Don't worry about it love. We should get some sleep. Morning will come soon," he sighed.
"I know," he agreed with a small sigh, resting his cheek on the older man’s chest, closing his eyes. They never had completely regained their natural color, but they were as close as he was sure they were going to get, at this point. Obi Wan watched him sleep for a few moments before joining him.

~*~
Anakin was awake early, the next morning. By the time Obi-Wan got up, he'd already showered, dressed (all his mechanical parts covered, per usual), and was rinsing out his coffee cup.
"Morning." He waved over his shoulder idly, upon sensing his lover coming into the room.
"Morning," Obi Wan greeted pouring himself some coffee. "Luke up yet?"
"Nope." He shook his head. "He'd apparently taking advantage of the opportunity to sleep in. I should make him get up and clean...his room's filthy..." Anakin mused, that last part mostly to himself.
"He still has to attend the class. I'll go wake him," Obi Wan said and left the kitchen.
Anakin shrugged, and left the room also, but not to go wake his son up. He went into the third bedroom, that had originally been his own, but was now more of a place for him to keep his...'toys'. (And, not the dirty kind.) He got his light saber quickly off of the dresser, and clipped it onto his belt. He should just keep it with him all the time, he noted dully. It would keep Luke from trying to commandeer it.
"Luke... get up," Obi Wan ordered opening the curtains that covered the windows to the boy's room. He glanced around and shook his head. Anakin was right, Luke did need to clean his room. "Luke up!"
"Nmmm... don't wanna!" Luke replied from under his pillow.
"You still have to attend class and if you are late you will be punished more," he warned. Luke groaned and slowly got up. Anakin, glanced at the clock, while he was doing that, and frowned.
"Obi-Wan," he called mildly. "Eight thirty. Get to it, it's bad form for the teacher to be late." Obi Wan cursed and went to get ready.
"Make sure your son stays awake and gets ready!"
"Yes, Master," Anakin agreed, tossing a wry grin in his direction, before going to go stare at Luke while he woke up and got dressed. It always seemed to be the most effective way of making sure everything got done in a timely manner. Luke seemed to move faster when he was being watched.
"Stop staring at me! I'm getting ready!" Luke complained.
"I'm your father." Anakin shrugged. "It's my job to annoy you." He wasn't sure if this was quite true, but Obi-Wan had certainly annoyed him when he was twelve. And, as odd as it was to say it, considering their current situation, Obi-Wan was the closest thing to a father he'd ever had. So, that was who he was basing his techniques after. "Trust me, it's better than the cold bucket of water I woke up to, at your age, when I over slept."
Luke paused, like any other little boy his age he hated baths, cold water seemed even worse.
"Cold water? Who would do that?" He asked pulling his tunic on.
"Obi-Wan." Anakin grinned at him. "He trained me, you know. It was his favorite method. He said it was effect and punishment rolled into one." Luke gulped.
"He wouldn't do that to me though... right?" Obi Wan walked by the door.
"If you don't hurry up I just might," he replied. That got Luke moving at light speed.
"Very good," Anakin commented, leaving the doorway to hug his former teacher from behind. "You haven't lost your touch." Obi Wan smiled and patted his hands.
"That's a good thing with your son. If I didn't know any better I would say he's your clone." He cursed then. 15 minutes. "Luke come on! You can finish getting ready at the temple!" Anakin released him, and went back to go shoo Luke toward the door.
"If you'd clean your room," he said as he prodded him along. "You'd know where everything is, and it wouldn't take so long."
"Yeah yeah," Luke sighed grabbing some toast Obi Wan offered him. He hopped on one foot as he pulled his boot on, the piece of toast in his mouth. Obi Wan smiled shaking his head as they left the apartment.
He'd been right, Anakin noted with vague misery as he was bombarded by younglings several minutes later. They did want to know about the war. In detail. Lots of detail. He felt like shrinking against Obi-Wan--hiding behind him in hopes that they would all just go away. He hadn't dealt well with the war the first time, he certainly didn't want to relive it.
"Enough! Go find your seats so that we may begin. Master Yoda and Anakin have agreed to give you a demonstration, each of you will then practice with them for 15 minutes before you write about what you learned," Obi Wan instructed. There were a few groans of disappointment but each padawan did what he said.

"Thank you," Anakin murmured softly to him, before drawing out his light saber, and facing Yoda as the aged warrior did the same. Then, blue met green it a frenzy of color, and the demonstration began.
The demonstration lasted for almost an hour, each of the padawan's staring in awe but Obi Wan called for them to stop.
"Thank you. Now let's see... Padawan Mickel you'll face Master Yoda and Padawan Airel you'll face Anakin. Each of you make sure to set your saber on the lowest setting. I don't want to escort anyone to the medical rooms today." The two padawans selected jumped up and ran over to Master Yoda and Anakin smiling excitedly.
~*~

"Not bad." Anakin ruffled the youngling's hair, once the practice was done. And, in truth, for such a young age, on average, it hadn't been. As the student's returned to their seat Obi Wan gave them paper to write down what they had learned and then sent two others out.
Luke stared at the battle's longingly but Obi Wan just gave him paper to write down what he learned from observing.
Anakin was out of the room, and down the hall a little before he noticed he was trembling even a little. (Actually, it was more than a little.) Yoda politely ignored him, and just continued on his way, as the blonde sunk down to the floor, to calm down for a moment. He hadn't dealt well with the interrogation by the children. Half of him hoped Obi-Wan would come out for a moment, the other half prayed he wouldn't. Either way, the Jedi Master owed him some major apology sex later, to make up for this.
"Anakin?" Obi Wan's worried voice came from behind him.
"Yeah?" He looked up from where he'd been staring at the floor, brushing his slightly damp bangs out of his eyes. An hour long spar with Yoda and then the shorter sessions with the younglings wasn't the easiest thing to do.
"Are you alright? I know I asked a lot of you to do this today but I didn't think it would affect you this way," Obi Wan said helping him stand.
"I'm fine." He brushed it off, even though it was a blatant lie. "I just don't like thinking about the war. Too much happened during it."
"I see. I'm sorry then. I should have told them not to speak of such things. Would you like to have lunch or go home and get some sleep? You look a bit tired," Obi Wan told him.
"I'm fine," he repeated, smiling slightly for him. "Lunch sounds kind of good, actually." Food would help him quit shaking. He felt ridiculous, doing so. Obi Wan smiled and together they walked to the mess hall and then took their lunch to the gardens. Obi Wan lay down staring up at the sky.
"I could eat a whole dragon mount," Anakin mumbled, as he dug into his food. "How many more classes do you have today?" He wondered, glancing over at his lover.
"Two," Obi Wan answered.
"Good. You'll be home early then." He nodded thoughtfully. "Just so you know, I intent to make you make that up to me." Obi Wan smirked glancing over at him.
"Oh really? And just what did you have in mind?"
"Sex," he stated between bites. "You owe me lots of sex, old man."
"My dear Anakin, I believe you have gotten addicted," Obi Wan chuckled.
"That is not my fault," he sniffed slightly. "And, I want liquor too." He wasn't entirely serious about that.

"Maybe a glass, but not until later. How much longer is Luke grounded for?"
"Well, originally, it was only for the one day," he admitted, offering him a dry look. "I haven't decided what his punishment for breaking his punishment should be, yet."
"A week? And he does need to clean his room," Obi Wan suggested.
"Told you so," Anakin laughed mildly, shaking his head a little. "You know...sometimes I wonder if we discipline him enough. Or, if I do, anyway."
"Do you want me to pour cold water over him next time he over sleeps?"
"That wasn't what I meant," he admitted, frowning at the empty container, but then just shrugging, and laying down next to Obi-Wan. "I just meant...most children, especially padawans, grow up with a stricter environment, right?"
"Most live here at the Temple, not with their parents," Obi Wan answered.
"He's still living with his master, though." Anakin shrugged. "Most children also aren't the child of Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi." Even though...Luke wasn't technically Obi-Wan's son. But, the man had more than helped raise him, and a conversation a few months ago with Padmé had brought Anakin to the conclusion that Obi-Wan might as well have been Luke's father...or mother, in the event that Anakin was angry with him.
"That's true... but it might be a good idea letting him move to the Temple... we should at least consider it," Obi Wan mused.
"No." He shook his head a little. "I don't think that's a good idea."
"How come?" Obi Wan gave him a questioning look.
"He's not ready to leave home yet." He shrugged, then sighed before continuing. "I’m not ready for him to leave home yet."
"Alright Anakin, but within the next three years we are going to have to seriously consider it." Obi Wan checked the time. "Lunch is almost over, I need to be heading back." Anakin made a displeased noise to both of those facts, and rolled over, pinning him to the ground, and giving him a kiss.
"Remember," he murmured when he pulled back. "You owe me sex and booze. Maybe we should just go to a strip bar..."
"I'd rather not share you," Obi Wan replied kissing him back. He leaned up and attacked Anakin's earlobe. Something between a snicker and a moan tore itself from his throat, and he had half a mind to just jump him right there. And...he just might have, if he hadn't sensed a very familiar energy behind him.
"Daddy's busy, Luke," he muttered, half teasingly. "What do you need?"
"I came to get Papa, class can't go on without him," Luke answered grudgingly. Obi Wan sighed and let go of Anakin's ear.
"Anakin, I need to go." He really didn't want to go but he needed to teach the class, and that couldn't be done with Anakin laying on top of him... it would be to distracting.
"Yes, Master," Anakin sighed tragically, rolling off of him finally. "We'll just have to finish this at home."
"Of course," he replied getting up. "Let's go Luke."
"Yes Pa..." he started but Obi Wan cut him off.
"From this point forward you'll call me Master while we're at the Temple not just in class," Obi Wan told him. Luke gave him a weird look but nodded.
"Yes Master." Together they walked from the gardens. Anakin shook his head in amusement, grabbing his garbage, and scrambling to his feet. Maybe he'd have a job waiting for him, when he got back...something to keep him busy for the afternoon. Or, he might just take Obi-Wan's suggestion and take a nap. He honestly was tired...he was always tired, Apparently, it was a less than pleasant effect of his accidental misadventures in Seeking, all that time ago.

When he returned the holo-communicator was beeping with a missed message. Well, so much for his nap. He sighed, and just went over and pressed the play button. Money was money was money, he figured with a shrug. A hooded blue image appeared.
"Anakin Sssskywalker. My people have need for your ssservicccesss. Pleassse cccontact usss sssoon," the figure said and then disappeared. Well, that wasn't cryptic at all...He stared dryly at the device, before returning the call.
"Yesss?" The figure asked, although the voice seemed pleasant enough.
"My name's Anakin Skywalker," he started slowly. "I was contacted by someone from this holo-com." The figure, who still wore the hooded cloak folded it's scaly fingers. Anakin couldn't be sure but he thought he saw a tongue flick out.
"Ah yesss. You are the mercccenary. Firssst, are you able to cccomplete a rather sssimple asssasssination?"
"Easy," he confirmed. "What's the deal?"
"50,000 cccreditsss for the asssasssination of the leader of Cornath," the other replied.

"Negative, my lord." Anakin shook his head a bit. "I work for cash only. Credits only work on Republican run planets."
"Our ssstandard money isss very limited. That in mind, we cccan offer you 10,000," the hooded figure replied.
"That's forty thousand less." Anakin frowned at him. "Tell you what, I'll cut you a break. Ten thousand in cash, and the other forty in credits."
"Thisss we cccan do. When cccan we expect the job completed?"

"Where is the target?" Anakin countered with, smirking smugly. "Timing all depends on distance."
"The planet Cornath in the (some galaxy)," the figure answered. “When cccan we expeccct the job done?” Anakin thought about that.
"If I can get to my ship," he started to answer slowly. "Between three days and a month."
"Accccceptiable thisss isss. You will reccccieve half of your payment within two days, the other half after the misssssion isss cccompleted."
"Thank you, my lord." Anakin nodded to him, bowing slightly at the waist, in true Jedi fashion. "I'll see what I can do about getting there."
"Cccontaccct usss with an update before you depart," the hooded figure requested.
"I can do that." He nodded in agreement. "You'll here from me soon," he promised, before cutting the connection off.
~*~

The hooded figure lowered it's hood revealing a lizard head, it's body hidden under the heavy cloak. A smile came to the scaly lips.
"Sssoon revenge will be gotten our departed Lord Sssidiusss," it hissed.

~*~
Well, Anakin reflected idly, glancing around the room. It looked like he'd be away for a while. He had no doubt that Obi-Wan would be able to take care of Luke, on his own, though. He shrugged, and went into their room, to start getting some clothes together, just in case he had the opportunity to stay in a real hotel, and change. He'd talk to Obi-Wan about getting his Star fighter later. His com-link beeped with a incoming call.

With a small sigh, Anakin rolled his eyes, and pressed the activation button, watching the small ghost image flicker to life. Obi Wan smirked at his look of irritation.
"I'm guessing you didn't get you sleep," he stated.
"No." He shook his head a little. "I didn't. Look, I got a job. It's beyond the Outer Rim. Do you think I can get to my Star fighter?"
"I think so. I'll see about it while Luke and I are out. After my last class I'm taking him to get that hair cut," he replied.
"Do it tomorrow." Anakin begged him, with a pitiful look. "I'm leaving then, if I can, and I'd like to spend tonight with you. I'm not sure how long this'll take."
"It won't take long Anakin. Maybe an hour, I'll give you a special goodbye as soon as we're home," Obi Wan promised.
"Alright..." He agreed with a sigh. "I'm gonna finish packing, then maybe try to grab that nap...again." Obi Wan laughed.
"Good luck love. We'll see you soon." And with that the call ended. Anakin snorted, but then just shrugged, and finished shoving clothes into a bag, before collapsing tiredly onto the bed. He knew Obi-Wan would wake him, when he and Luke got back...whether he meant to or not.