A/N: Wow, thanks for all the reviews everybody and for all the people watching this. This chapter is a little slow, but it helps set up some of the differences so I thought it was necessary. Since it does recap a lot that people already know, I'll try to post the next chapter soon.

For everyone concerned about a whiny Vader/Anakin, fear not. While he'll be stuck in whiny mode for a bit, I hope to move him out of that as soon as I can since I personally hate him like that. As for Obi-Wan... well, he's still a secret for a while yet.

Disclaimer: I don't own anything... obviously. Some dialogue in the Council scene taken from the novelization of the Phantom Menace, by Terry Brooks.

Chapter 2

Days earlier on Coruscant...

Qui-Gon stood on a balcony, high on the Jedi Temple. He was trying to be patient as the Council decided Anakin's fate, but he was finding it nearly impossible to do. Usually he had no problem living in the moment, and letting the future sort itself out, but not this time. Too much depended on the boy. He was absolutely certain that young Anakin Skywalker was the Chosen One. Even the Council, who disagreed with him on so many things, had to see that. If they didn't... well, he would find a way.

For so long, Qui-Gon had felt very little. He had not allowed much to move him since Xanatos had betrayed him. Countless initiates had been spurned. Eventually even Yoda had given up wheedling Qui-Gon and trying to get him to take a new padawan. How many dreams had Qui-Gon crushed since then? It didn't matter. None of that mattered, because Qui-Gon was going to make the dreams of one come true. He was going to ensure that Anakin became a Jedi.

This decision caused no hesitation. It didn't matter that the boy would be considered far too old to train. Maybe he should find that ironic. After rejecting so many hopeful young initiates on the grounds that he didn't want to face another padawan falling to the Dark Side, Qui-Gon was about to take a padawan everyone thought destined to fail. Everyone but Qui-Gon.

Finally, as twilight prepared to overtake daylight, Qui-Gon was summoned into the Council chambers to hear their decision. He strode in confidently. Anakin was already waiting in the center of the room. Qui-Gon stood at the boy's side and put his large, strong hand onto Anakin's shoulder to comfort him.

The Council confirmed everything just as Qui-Gon knew they would. The Force was strong with Anakin and his midi-chlorian count was beyond anything that had been seen before. Qui-Gon smiled. He felt vindicated after so many years of the Council dismissing him.

"He is to be trained, then," he said.

He was sure that was to be their next pronouncement. Every fiber of him sung with that certainty. He was wrong.

"No," Mace Windu said. "He will not be trained."

Anakin looked like he was about to cry. Qui-Gon almost wanted to do the same. To cry, shout, or rage in some way. This was wrong. They were wrong. But then, they always were.

"No?" he asked, still in complete shock.

"He is too old. There is already too much anger in him," Mace replied.

Qui-Gon could not let this stand. The Force had led him to Anakin. It had helped him find a way to free the child from slavery. He felt like he had survived everything in his life just so he could train Anakin. He took a breath to calm himself and said, "He is the Chosen One. You must see it!"

Yoda, as he always did, ignored Qui-Gon's angry defiance. "Clouded, this boy's future is. Masked by his youth."

Qui-Gon looked at the other Council members. Surely one of them must see the truth of the matter. He was used to them disagreeing with him, but he still respected their wisdom. Surely in a case as clear as this, one of them must see how obviously right he was. However, he saw nothing to give him hope. Some of the members even looked embarrassed for him. He stiffened under those looks.

Fine. He would do what he had planned on doing all along.

"Very well," he said as coolly as he could manage. "I will train him then. I take Anakin Skywalker as my Padawan apprentice."

A bright flash of hope sprang onto Anakin's face. Qui-Gon's grip on the boy's shoulder strengthened, as if daring anyone to try to take the boy from him.

"After so many years refusing one, take a Padawan now you will?" Yoda said, his eyes half lidded and intent. "Despite the darkness, so sure you are suddenly?"

"I am," Qui-Gon said. And he was. Everyone saw the certainty in his eyes. His passion was unmatched when he felt a cause must be taken up. This was a cause he believed in like no other. He knew that Yoda was trying to play on his fears, but he honestly had no fear of Anakin falling. The living Force would not lead him wrong.

Yoda, obviously, thought otherwise. "Dangerous, the boy is," the ancient Jedi master said bluntly.

Qui-Gon flinched ever so slightly. After so many years of arguing against taking a padawan, he had not expected so much resistance when he finally accepted an apprentice. Worse still, Anakin had to stand and hear his fate argued like he wasn't there. Anakin didn't need to be treated like an object; he'd had enough of that in his young life already. Just as Qui-Gon was about to say as much, Mace waved his hand, swiping the subject aside.

"Now is not the time for this," he said. "This is too large a matter to decide now. Tomorrow the Senate will vote for a new supreme chancellor. Queen Amidala returns home, we are advised, which will put pressure on the Federation and could widen the confrontation. Those responsible will be quick to act on these events."

"Drawn out of hiding, her attackers will be," Yoda said, quietly.

"Events are moving too fast for distractions such as this," Ki-Adi-Mundi added.

"Go with the Queen to Naboo and discover the identity of this dark warrior who attacked you, be it Sith or otherwise. That is the clue we need to unravel this mystery."

"Decided later, young Skywalker's fate will be," Yoda said.

Qui-Gon knew a dismissal well enough when he heard one; after all, he heard them often enough. He knew they were trying to remind him of his duty. No matter his feelings about Anakin, he still had a mission. If he abandoned Amidala and Naboo, there would be severe consequences. As a Jedi, the mission came first, whether he liked it or not. He especially could not ignore the Sith. He knew first hand how dangerous that could be. Still, Anakin could not be forgotten.

"I brought Anakin here; he must stay in my charge. He has nowhere else to go," he said.

"He is your ward, Qui-Gon. We do not dispute that," Mace agreed with a nod.

"But train him not! Take him with you, but train him not!" Yoda said, sharply.

Qui-Gon nodded, though inwardly he still felt like shouting about how wrong they were. He was about to bow out when Mace held up his hand again.

"You will protect the Queen, but do not interfere if it comes to war. We cannot act until we have Senate approval," he said. Again, Qui-Gon nodded, although he knew as much without Mace telling him. Then Mace continued, saying, "And you will take another Jedi with you."

"What?" Didn't they trust him? This felt like a slap to the face, but Qui-Gon remained outwardly emotionless.

"Knight Gola Kensyn will accompany you," Mace explained. "If your attacker was indeed a Sith, you will need back up."

All the more reason I should be allowed a padawan, Qui-Gon thought ruefully. He knew that no one in the Council really had believed him when he'd insisted the attacker was a Sith. No. This other Jedi they were sending with him was insurance. They wanted someone who could keep an eye on him and keep him in line. Someone who could make sure he wouldn't try to train Anakin. If they had really wanted to give him back up, they wouldn't be sending a fresh, untested Knight.

Still, this was not a point he could argue. After all, the tattooed Zabrak was clearly a formidable opponent. His short battle had taught him that first hand. He would need help if attacked again. "I understand," Qui-Gon conceded.

"May the Force be with you," Yoda said.

Qui-Gon and Anakin both bowed and left the chambers. There was nothing more to argue now, but Qui-Gon vowed that Anakin would not be overlooked. Once the crisis on Naboo was settled, he would make sure that Anakin was recognized.