Author's Note: This fic will be a series of conversation that change Anakin and Obi-Wan's relationship from the cannon. It follows my rewrite of Lawless (if you don't feel like reading that you don't have to, but it explains why Satine's there and alive). I'm exploring what might have happened if there were fewer secrets and more communication, oh and if people realized how fucked up the Council was. -Ember

Only Words by November Murray

Conversation I: Keep Him

"Is there nothing the Jedi Council can do?" Satine asked her old friend. Obi-Wan just bowed his head.

"But isn't that the job of the Council?" Senator Amidala asked as she entered the airy living room over her apartment, C3PO shuffled behind her with a try of refreshments. "Mandalore is asking for humanitarian aid and help ending this civil war. The Jedi's mandate is to protect peace."

"I agree with you," Obi-Wan said solemnly, "but the war takes precedence right now. The Council cannot suggest sending troops or Jedi to Mandalore, a neutral system, unless the acting Prime Minister asks for it."

"But he's nothing but a corrupt pawn of the Death Watch," Satine said adamantly.

"I know that but the fact remains that the he appears the sovereign ruler supported by the people and the Republic can not choose which deposed rulers they support and which they ignore. They must treat every case the same." Obi-Wan said mechanically.

"But Almec doesn't have the support of the people, if he did then there wouldn't be a civil war!"

"I know, my dear," Obi-Wan said tiredly.

"How can they do this? What about the Sith? Doesn't the Council care that the Sith put this mob of murderers in power?"

"They do but Maul has disappeared and with Savage dead the Council feels that we have more pressing issues."

"Like leading the war?"

"Yes." Obi-Wan said with an exhausted sigh.

"This is ridiculous," Satine cried out and stood quickly, folding her arms and walking to the large open windows. Her shoulders shook silently as her blond head bowed. The Senator and Jedi shared glances, the former encouraging and the later worried. Obi-Wan gave in and stood as well. Moving to stand behind Satine, he put a hand on her shoulder compassionately.

"I'm sorry, Satine. I've done everything I can to convince the Council but I'm only one voice."

She nodded, lip between her teeth and eyes focused far away. "I know, Obi. I just hate feeling helpless."

"I know." He had to look away from her face because he could see her heart breaking. She was losing what she'd given everything, her life, her love, her future… and it was all being torn down by corruption and war. Her people were suffering and she felt it as if it were her own pain. It brought anger broiling up in Obi-Wan's usual calm. Satine was the last person who deserved that.

"You should rest," he said softly. "It's been a long day."

As proof of her breaking spirit Satine only nodded meekly.

"Tomorrow is another day," he said, but it sounded weak even in his own ears. Still she managed to give him a small smile and reached one of her pale slender hands up to grip his on her shoulder. Obi-Wan was suddenly struck with the urge to pull her closer, hold her and comfort her physically where he could not comfort her with assurances.

But he didn't. He stood still before the window as Satine drifted to guest room that had become her home on Coruscant. The door closed with a soft click and he was left alone with Padme. She approached him after a long silence and offered him a drink.

"Thank you."

"No, thank you for coming. I though she could use some support after…" she left the words hanging, unsure how to describe their day in the Senate. Neither of them wanted to say the word failure, because failure carried with it a finality none of them were willing to accept.

"I would have come anyway," Obi-Wan said truthfully. The Council had delivered their opinions on the Mandalore situation in the senate, impersonally and without regard for the fallen Duchess. He felt an obligation as part of that Council to deliver the verdict more personally.

"Will the council really do nothing?" She asked.

"Yes, I'm afraid that is their final decision."

Amidala shook her head, "I can understand why Anakin gets so frustrated with them."

"Yes," Obi-Wan's eyes strayed to the closed doors of the guest bedroom, "so can I sometimes and I'm a member of the council."

"Do they not value your opinions and experience in this matter?"

"They do." Obi-Wan said quickly.

"It doesn't seem like it."

"The Council has suffered because of this war with so many seats changing in recent times." Though if Obi-Wan were honest he would have to say that council hadn't changed that much since the start of the clone wars. The newer members were often overshadowed by those senior ones and decisions were often made so quickly that it was easier to accept the opinions of the louder voices.

"The Jedi order seems to have changed a lot since the war began."

Obi-Wan chose to remain silent.

"Do you think it can return, after the war, to the way it was?" She questioned.

"Do you think the Senate can?"

"I have to believe so."

"And if it doesn't?" Obi-Wan asked.

"Then I must believe that there are people strong enough to resist the change and that democracy will prevail," her usually steady voice wavered. Obi-Wan could sense that she was doubtful of her own words.

"How have things gotten to this point?" He asked himself. The once resolute Queen with her unyielding faith in the self-government of people was shaken. The outspoken pacifist Duchess who had stood in front of blasters and cannons for her people was now a broken hearted voice ignored amid the shouts and war cries of the Senate. Obi-Wan shook his head and his shoulders slumped.

"This war will end," Padme said, only slightly more confidant, "it has to end."

"But at what cost?" Obi-Wan asked thinking of Ahsoka. She had left shrouded in uncertainty and turmoil, teetering on the edge of the dark and light. Her departure had left her master no better. Not for the first time Obi-Wan worried that surrounded by death as Anakin was that the dark side would grow in him and gain a foothold. If it did, would Obi-Wan be able to bring his former padewan back to the light? At one point he might wouldn't have questioned that, now he was not so sure.

"The war has caused many people to look at their values again, I've seen it turn some of my colleges into better people."

Looking at Padme as she spoke an idea came to Obi-Wan. Though he might not be able to reach Anakin as he once believed he could, perhaps there was someone else who could.

"And what if the war turns good people into something bad, something you don't recognize?" He asked.

"What do you mean?" Padme suddenly got uncomfortable.

"The war is having an effect on the Order, on all the Jedi," Obi-Wan kept his gaze level on her. "Satine accused us of no longer being Peacekeepers and she's right, we've become Generals and soldiers. What if we've seen too much death and war to go back?"

"I don't believe that."

"You know Anakin better than anyone, can you truly say the war isn't changing him?"

"I don't know what you're talking about, Anakin and I are just friends."

"I would appreciate it if you both stopped treating me like a blind fool. I can tell how attached he is to you."

Padme went pale and swallowed thickly under his steady gaze. "The Jedi Code forbids attachments."

"The Council forbids attachments and you know we have both disobeyed the Council on many occasions." His thoughts strayed back to Satine, he had gone against the council to save her and his only regret was that it biased them against her, even if none of them would admit it.

Padme took a deep sigh and turned away. She went back to her seat on the couch with slumped shoulders. Obi-Wan followed, sitting next to her.

"How long?" He asked. She glanced up at him then away.

"You remember that day, after we returned from Geonosis, you came to see me."

"I demanded that you end your relationship with Anakin and you asked to do so on your return to Naboo."

"Yes."

"That long ago?"

"We went back to the lake country where we stayed before. On the lake shore we were married by a Pontifex of the Brotherhood of Cognizance." Obi-Wan's jaw dropped just a little. He'd suspected the relationship between Anakin and the Senator but for them to make their disobedience official and be married was a shock to him. "I have never regretted marrying Anakin," Padme told him, her voice clear. "I love him."

Obi-Wan had to turn away. His mind was reeling at the magnitude of what he had overlooked. Anakin was not only attached to Padme but he had made vows in direct conflict with his vows to the Order. That was very hard to overlook, even for him. Lately he'd disagreed with the council's decisions, even if he understood why they were made. That was different from failing his vows as a Jedi.

"Will you turn him in?" Padme's voice wavered with worry for her husband. Obi-Wan frowned. He looked back at her, sitting on the long couch, hands clasped together and lip between her teeth. He had a duty to the council but he also had a duty to Anakin. More than any of that he had a duty to the Republic and the truth was that they needed Anakin fighting this war, if they didn't they would have pulled him off the front lines long ago.

"No," Obi-Wan shook his head. "I won't." Walking back and sitting down next to her he continued, taking her hands in his own and imploring her. "But, Padme, you must promise me that you will be careful. This war his taking a toll on all of us, Anakin included. He's volatile and rash but right now his heart is in the right place. Keep it there." He gripped her hands. "And promise you'll come to me if you are ever worried about him. I can help you, both of you." He could see in her eyes she wanted to believe. Something, probably a small voice that sounded like Anakin, held her back. Only time would earn that trust. That was the one thing they might not have.

Why did I wait this long, Obi-Wan chastised himself even as he released the Senator's hands. Obi-Wan stood, letting her know silently she didn't have to answer yet. He strode to the door with heavy strides. There he stopped.

"I can see why he loves you, Padme Amidala," Obi-Wan's voice made the Senator look up from her hands clasped in her lap. "I'm sorry if I have failed him." Her lips tightened into a pained echo of a smile before he closed the door and was gone.

Authors Note: So this story will have pretty short chapters, which is strange for me. Hope you like them anyway. Leave a review or a message with your comments or suggestions. Be nice please. -Ember