Episode II: Strangers Like Me

Summary: Raven learns of a different side, the Jedi. Will the Council allow her to be a padawan? Who will be her Master? And through trials and a closer bond, Obi-Wan finds himself loving. Obi-WanOC or ObiOC

READ EPISODE I: END OF THE RULE OF TWO FIRST! I guess you could just jump right in, but I might make references to my "Episode I".

A/N: I do NOT own Star Wars; all rights go to George Lucas.

Please review! I hope to have more reviewers this time, and maybe over time some people will just get interested.

Enjoy!

"We have to distrust each other. It is our only defense against betrayal." – Tennessee Wellians

Raven stared at Obi-Wan as he calmly flew the ship, she was holding her younger sister who had finally stopped shaking but still trembled in her sleep and let out whimpers. It was killing her that she couldn't do anything; she tried to go into her mind again. That was all she could do, and that's all she's been doing; sending soothing thoughts to her to try and calm her restless mind.

"You're going to hurt yourself if you keep trying," Obi-Wan said, turning in his seat slightly, "there's nothing more you can do for her."

"Do you know what it feels like to have to sit on the sidelines while the person you love fights," the moment the words came out of her mouth, Raven regretted them.

He had done so, he had to stand at the other end of an energy shield and watch his Master fight a Sith. And then he had to watch his Master fall to that same Sith, she chewed the inside of her cheek at being so ignorant. Obi-Wan didn't say anything; he turned back to the control panel and guided the ship through space.

"We'll be arriving shortly," he said simply.

"Hang on, mei-mei," Raven whispered to her and held her tighter.

- ? -

Obi-Wan sat helplessly next to Raven, she was chewing on her nails – again. Her eyes were glued to the room that they had her sister, Master Yoda had been called down to see what he could do to help and they had been in there for an hour. The tension was driving him crazy; he could feel her worry and it made his heart ache.

But more importantly, he was curious about the bond they now shared.

He barely knew the younger child in the medical room, but he felt protective over her. It couldn't have been from his own feelings, he didn't even know the child; the feelings had to belong to the raven-haired beauty beside him. Slowly the feeling of worry was starting to turn into guilt, and Obi-Wan turned to her curiously to see her eyes down casted.

He grabbed the hand that she was chewing on, and she turned to him in surprise.

"This isn't your fault," he assured her.

She snorted and looked away from him, "you don't even know the whole story."

"But you're a good person," reasoned Obi-Wan.

"I'm a Sith, Obi," she said, turning blank eyes onto him, "how 'good' could I be?"

"Tired, we all are," Obi-Wan jumped at the older Master's voice, and looked to see Yoda giving him a hard look, he had heard what Raven had to say, "rest, you should."

"Yes, Master-"

"How is she," Raven asked, cutting off Obi-Wan; Obi-Wan blushed at her informality, and Yoda raised an eyebrow at the girl.

"Hard to see, the Dark side is," Yoda said, "origin of the attack cannot be found. Everything I could, I did; needs rest now, like you. In the morning, we'll see her progress."

Raven sighed, obviously not the answer she was looking for, "thank you, Master, I'm sure you did."

Yoda turned to Obi-Wan, "in your quarters, your friend will stay. When you've returned her to your quarters, find me, you will."

"Yes, Master," Obi-Wan said, rising, he bowed to him and then motioned for Raven to follow him.

Now that Yoda had mentioned something, Obi-Wan did notice how tired she looked. She had grim on her face from the battle on Naboo, and she kind of stunk of burnt flesh and her own sweat. He would show her to the refresher again, and maybe she'd make him that amazing soup once more. Her hair was everywhere, and little strands fell in her hair, though it was pulled pack in a ponytail.

"Nice place," Raven said, admiring the place, "where's your extra linens."

"You can just take my bed," Obi-Wan said, spotting Anakin playing on a holopad.

Raven glared at him, "I'll take the couch."

"Why are you stubborn," he demanded.

"Don't you have somewhere to go," Raven said as she opened up a closet and found the extra sheets, "don't want to keep him waiting."

Obi-Wan scowled, but went into the closet and handed her a towel, "refresher is this room. Help yourself to the kitchen; Anakin?"

"Yes, Obi-Wan," the young child asked.

"This is Raven, a friend," he said, "Raven this is Anakin, maybe my new padawan."

"Cute," she said with a smile as she nodded to the young boy, and then turned to him, "I'll fix dinner for your hospitality…and because you can't cook."

Obi-Wan pouted as he left, he heard Anakin asking Raven questions kindly. Obi-Wan didn't know why he said "maybe" when he explained that Anakin would be his padawan learner. It was his Master's last wish, he would fulfill it, even if it meant going against the Council. After all, he learned from his Master that though it may not seem right, sometimes you had to do the right thing by going against the Council.

As Obi-Wan neared the Room of a Thousand Fountains and remembered why he was heading there, his heart sank. Raven, though she didn't believe it, was not a bad person. There was a story that he didn't know, but he was certain that this wasn't the path that she had chosen for herself. Whenever he fought against her, there was much turmoil in her against the Dark side. Even if the Dark side was present in her when she fought, she couldn't kill him.

But she killed Viceroy Hask, he remembered her breaking the huge window and then aiming her gun at other innocent leaders.

"Much on your mind, young Obi-Wan," Yoda said from his seat, Obi-Wan looked up at him, "know why you're here, you do."

"Master Yoda, I know it looks bad-"

"Try not to judge, I do," Master Yoda said, and then glared, "but alliance with a Sith, are you?"

Obi-Wan chewed, "well, yes and no."

"Explain."

Sighing, Obi-Wan explained his and Raven's chance encounter. And how after that his curiosity led him searching for her in the lower levels, how mysterious she was about her Master, and the scars she had on her back. He explained how he begged for her to go to the Temple with him to report her Master, but she refused – probably fearing another beating. Sadly, Obi-Wan admitted that he let her leave after the event on Eraidu, and how he hadn't even told Qui-Gon Jinn about his knowledge on the attacker.

"She's a good person, though, Master," Obi-Wan pleaded, "I know her."

Yoda hummed quietly, "the rest of the story, you must find out. A meeting with the Council, about her, we shall have."

"Thank you, Master," Obi-Wan said with a sigh, there was a chance.

Confronting Raven about the matter would not be easy, though. Raven was a real private person, she didn't like talking about her personal story and so getting her to explain to him what happened to her would be like pulling teeth. He hoped though that she would understand that this would mean exile or…he didn't know what. What would she do if the Council decided not to exile her beyond the outer rim?

Entering his room, he saw Anakin sitting on the bar stool at the counter eagerly eating something. It looked like some sort of sandwhich, but by the skillet that was on the stove, Obi-Wan could only guess that it was grilled, but it didn't look like a standard grilled cheese. He found Raven getting down three cups, how she knew where everything was, Obi-Wan would never know.

"Hey," she said, "made you a sandwich."

"What kind," he asked curiously, taking a seat next to Anakin who had crumbs all over his mouth and shirt.

"A grilled pepper jack cheese and pickles," he announced, "Raven says 'don't hate it, 'til you've ate it'."

Raven choked on her apple juice and coughed as Anakin eagerly continued to eat his sandwich. Obi-Wan was still a little hesitant, but remembered the soup and the odd ingredients he found in that too. He took a bite and a smile formed on his face immediately at the odd combination of flavors swirled in his mouth.

"Raven, you should just be a cook," he said as he took another bite.

She laughed, "Mominkese know how to cook, it's in our blood."

"I have midichlorians in mine," Anakin stated with pride, Obi-Wan smirked at Anakin's enthusiasm.

Raven smiled too as she bit into her own grilled cheese, "what is that?"

"They live inside of you," Anakin said, twisting his face, trying to remember what Master Qui-Gon had told him, "They help you detect the Force. Do you have midichlorians in you too?"

"I don't know, I was never tested," Raven said with a shrug, "but if what you say is true, then yes."

"Are you a Jedi?"

The two adult's tensed and Raven took another bite so that she didn't have to answer right away, she looked at Obi-Wan for help. In all honesty, Obi-Wan didn't know what to say, and shifted in his seat for a moment.

"She might be," Obi-Wan said, "we're having a meeting at the Council tomorrow evening."

"Why is it okay for her to start training," Anakin asked, "I was such a bother to them, but they don't have a problem with her."

"It's complicated," Obi-Wan shifted, "you should head off to bed."

Anakin slipped down, "which room will I stay in?"

Obi-Wan tensed once more, he felt that no one should sleep in Qui-Gon's bed. As though the Master would come through the door anymore and laughing at tricking his young padawan, but Obi-Wan knew that that wouldn't happen. He didn't want anything to change though, he didn't want to take Anakin as a padawan, he didn't want to take on the Trials anymore, he didn't want to have a Knighting ceremony without his Master; it wasn't fair. He would give up anything, even be exiled beyond the outer rim, if his Master would just come back.

But he wouldn't.

"Take mine, for now," Obi-Wan said, not looking at the younger boy in the eyes as he said so.

Raven watched the younger boy leave and then looked to Obi-Wan, he still didn't make eye contact, "he's a sweet kid."

Obi-Wan nodded, Raven sighed, "I'm sorry about your Master. I wish I could've done something."

"You couldn't have done anything-"

"You don't know that," Raven cut in, "Obi-Wan, my Master killed your Master. Part of the blame goes to me."

Obi-Wan sighed as he said as smoothly as possible, "what happened has happened. No blame falls upon anyone-"

"Cut the crap, Obi," she glared, "my sister has faced death countless of times, and this one is no different. I always blame the Cancer, and now I know who to blame."

"What do you mean," Obi-Wan asked, hoping to get an answer from her.

But of course, Raven just steeled herself and said, "Nothing, forget it."

Obi-Wan sighed, "why won't you let me help you?"

"BECAUSE I'VE ALREADY HURT SOMEONE," she yelled in exasperation, slamming her hands down on the counter, he watched as her glass broke with the Force, she didn't acknowledge it, "no one can get close to me Obi-Wan, I end up hurting them!"

Obi-Wan sighed, this wasn't going as he had hoped, he decided to be completely honest with her, "it doesn't look good with you on our Council. Master Yoda over heard you talking about yourself as a Sith. The Council believes you're dangerous, the only reason why you're not in a cell is because I pleaded to Yoda that you were a good person."

"Maybe your Council is right," Raven said, not looking at him, "maybe you put too much trust in me."

"Raven, you're not a bad person," Obi-Wan demanded, "you couldn't kill me."

"I killed Viceroy Hask."

Obi-Wan sighed, "why did you become a Sith? What led you to choose the Dark side?"

Raven raised an eyebrow; "you haven't been able to get a straight answer from me since we met, what makes you think I'll give you one now?"

"Think of your sister," Obi-Wan pleaded, "what if she survives, and you're exiled somewhere that she'll never be able to see, how do you think she'll feel about that? She'll be alone."

"Maybe she's better off alone-"

"Blast it, Raven," he said, finally getting angry too, "stop having this pity party! Let me help you, dammit."

Raven sighed as she ran fingers through her clean, black hair. It was no longer in the ponytail, and Obi-Wan couldn't help but stop being mad at her when she just looked out at the window at the busy city. He slumped his shoulders, seeming to go into a state of calm. Was this her doing? She was calm at the moment also. He hated the bond, if they had such a strong bond; shouldn't he be able to see into her mind?

"I care for you Obi-Wan," Raven whispered, her eyes not leaving the window, "I've never had anyone to confide in…how do I know you won't be like my Master, and use the information I give you, against me?"

Obi-Wan walked around the counter and cupped her cheeks in both hands and looked into her brown eyes, she looked back into his blue-gray eyes, "you're just going to have to trust me."

I'm back :) Hope you enjoyed, just kind of an intro chapter. REVIEW!