This is the first, of hopefully many stories I'll post here, so please go easy on the newbie?! :)

Title: Fate's Decree

Author: Briami Kenobi

Genre: AU

Pairing: Obi-Wan/OFC

Rating: PG

Summary: The Force changes its mind about the future of Obi-Wan Kenobi.

Author's Note: Okay, my muse gave me this idea when I was in the shower one morning, and the song "Hot For Teacher" by Van Halen came on my iPod. And he continued to make the song play in my head all...day…long, until I finally started to write. The original idea was for this to be a fun little one shot, though now it's grown into a quite a series about Obi-Wan's altered future. As for now, Obi's given me ideas for three stories, though there's a good possibility there could be more.

Chapter One

"For the last time, Master, stay in bed," Obi-Wan Kenobi said as he attempted to push the larger man back onto the bed.

"And for the last time, Obi-Wan, I am no longer your Master," Qui-Gon Jinn replied, still trying his best to get out of bed despite the still-healing wound to his midsection. It had been barely a month since the Battle of Naboo, and he was tired of being cooped up in the Healer's Wing. "I'm fine, Obi-Wan. I just wanted to go for a walk so I could stretch my legs. A ishort/i walk," he amended upon seeing the annoyed look on his former Padawan's face.

"Well, forgive me, but old habits die hard," he said, helping Qui-Gon get his legs back in the bed. "And there's no chance in Sith Hell that you'll be getting out of this bed anytime soon." He sighed as he watched Qui-Gon roll his eyes, shaking his head at his Master's well known stubbornness. "It took the Healer's nearly a week and a half to repair only half the damage that creature's blade did, and almost another week to take care of the rest," he said before Qui-Gon could object, his frustration clearly evident in his tone. He pulled the blankets back over Qui-Gon's legs before sitting carefully on the edge of the bed. He folded his hands in his lap and stared at them a moment before continuing. "I nearly lost you on Naboo," he said quietly. He allowed silence to stretch out a bit before taking a deep breath and looking back at his Master with sad eyes. "I don't want to risk losing you for good simply because you wanted to take a stroll," he said with the smallest of grins.

Qui-Gon flashed a small smile of his own at Obi-Wan's half-hearted attempt at a joke, though it faded as quickly as it appeared. "You know that will never happen, Padawan," he said in sternly, slipping easily back into the role of teacher. "I will become one with Force when it is my time, so you will never truly 'lose' me, nor anyone else for that matter. You know this."

"I do know," Obi-Wan sighed, looking back down at his hands. In light of all that had happened in the past several weeks, he'd felt that Qui-Gon should know how he felt about him; however, receiving a lecture about the Code was the last thing he wanted. Especially from the man who seemed to live to defy that very Code. But then, it always seemed to be that way with Qui-Gon.

Qui-Gon had always tried to teach his pupil to live in the moment and be more attuned to the Living Force, and that the occasional show of emotion wouldn't kill him; however, every time Obi-Wan tried to do as his Master instructed, his attempts seemed to always be shot down. It frustrated Obi-Wan to no end.

He pushed himself off the bed and began to pace a few feet away. "I know that when people pass on, they join the Force, and that we should rejoice in that fact and celebrate their lives, not mourn their passing," he said, reciting the lesson that had been drilled into him time and again, his tone and gestures showing his agitation. He stopped at the end of the bed and turned to look at Qui-Gon. "It's just that…." His voice trailed off as he looked sharply over his shoulder in the direction of the door, uncertainty twisting his features.

After several moments of stillness and silence, Qui-Gon became concerned. "Obi-Wan?" When he didn't answer, Qui-Gon sat a bit straighter, leaning forward to try to gain the younger man's attention. "Obi-Wan!"

Obi-Wan jumped slightly, startled by the sharpness in Qui-Gon's tone. His features changed from puzzled to annoyed as he looked back at the man in the bed, only to soften a bit when he saw the concern in his eyes.

Qui-Gon grunted as he leaned back against the pillows stacked behind him. "What is it, Obi-Wan? What's wrong?"

"I heard someone crying," he said quietly, turning his attention back to the door. "It sounded like a young girl."

Qui-Gon's brow furrowed as he thought. "I didn't hear anything," he admitted after a moment.

Obi-Wan looked back at his former Master as if the man had suddenly grown a second head. "How could you not hear it?" he asked, his voice showing his disbelief. He now walked to the door, closing the distance in two long strides. "It sounded like it was right outside the…." His voice trailed off as he opened the door to an empty hallway. "…door," he finished, checking the hall right to left and back again.

Qui-Gon watched as Obi-Wan's frame shrank with disappointment. He stared at his former apprentice, as the gears in his young mind worked vigorously in attempt to solve the problem. He was about to joke that Obi-Wan was hearing things, but the thought left his mind when he saw Obi-Wan stand taller, his gaze now fixed on the door jam, though not actually seeing it.

"What now?" he asked, immediately recognizing the thoughtful look on Obi-Wan's face.

"I heard it again," he said with more certainty. "Though now it sounds like it's outside the Healer's Wing." He looked down the hall to his right as he spoke. "Like it's further into the Temple."

"Hmm, sounds serious," Qui-Gon said. He crossed his arms over his chest, bringing a hand up to rest on his chin as he thought. "Perhaps you should go and investigate this mystery."

Obi-Wan looked over his shoulder at him with an amused expression. "And leave you here alone to try another miserable escape attempt?" he asked with a grin. "I don't think so."

Qui-Gon smiled at the humor he heard in Obi-Wan's voice. "I still think you should, especially since you seem to be the only one who can hear it."

Obi-Wan shook his head as he looked back down the hall. He still couldn't understand how Qui-Gon could not hear it.

"Besides," Qui-Gon continued, "Anakin will be along shortly. His lesson with Master Yoda should be ending any minute now, so I won't be alone for long. And I promise I will not move from this bed."

"You promise?" Obi-Wan asked, not quite sure he should believe him.

"I promise," Qui-Gon said, his tone serious.

Obi-Wan sighed as he looked back down the hall, hearing the young girl crying again. After a moment, he slowly nodded his head. "All right, I'll go take a look."

"Let me know what you find?" Qui-Gon asked before Obi-Wan could leave.

"I will," he said, looking back to Qui-Gon with a smile. He gave his Master a brief nod, then made his way out of the Healer's Wing.