Disclaimer: Not mine.
So with Padme taken by Obi-Wan, any suggestions for a pairing for Anakin?

Chapter 4

Obi-Wan smiled as he walked into Anakin's room, gently lifting him from his chair at his desk and carrying him over to his bed. He gently settled the ten year old under the blankets and then moved to tidy the mess of datapads on the desk before switching the light off. He silently closed the door and then left the apartment for his shift. No one liked working the night shift but it was necessary. Tonight he would be guarding the upper levels, including the Chancellor's offices. He shared a resigned nod with his fellow guards and began patrolling the corridors. Obi-Wan knew Anakin hated it when he had night duty since it meant he slept a good part of the day instead of being able to spend it with his ward. Since taking the boy in he'd been happier than he had since his Master had been killed. And Anakin had blossomed under his tutelage. He absorbed training like a sponge and none of the Jedi suspected a thing. The boy spent one day a week with Qui-Gin Jinn and the man had praised Obi-Wan's care of Anakin since he was so calm and settled. It was rather amusing.

Obi-Wan gently guided Anakin's motions as he worked with his first lightsaber. He'd started his training later than normal, for Sith or Jedi but Anakin had needed the extra time to build up strength, stamina and agility. While the boy may have appeared very healthy he had been suffering from some slight malnutrition due to his life as a slave. He'd collected several crystals and let Anakin pick the one he wanted. He'd picked a dark blue one instead of the traditional red but then again Obi-Wan had never favoured a red lightsaber either. His first had been green, then violet and finally a dark orange.

They paused for a break and Anakin went through a series of easy stretches to cool down. Obi-Wan tossed him a towel and then a water bottle and Anakin made use of both. "Am I doing okay?"

"You're doing fine Anakin." Obi-Wan assured him, reaching over to ruffle the blonde hair. Anakin laughed and ducked out of the way. "Qui-Gon's taking you to the Temple today?"

"Yes sir." He tried to hide his nervousness but didn't quite manage and Obi-Wan knelt in front of him.

"Everything will be fine Ani. Your shields are excellent, no one will sense anything." He assured the eleven year old and Anakin nodded, taking strength from his Master's faith.

Qui-Gon smiled as he watched Anakin explore the Temple gardens. This was where the boy should be living, he should be his Padawan. He looked so at home here. He looked over his shoulder at the sound of tapping to see his Master's Master walking slowly towards him. "Enjoying visit he is?"

"Yes Master." Qui-Gon nodded over to where Anakin was studying some flowers curiously. The two Jedi watched him for a while.

"Calmer he is, at peace. Good for him Obi-Wan is." Yoda commented as he watched the child. Much of the cloud that had been hovering over him two years ago was gone now, his future clearer. Anakin ran over but hesitated when he saw Yoda. The small master nodded his head at the boy and motioned him closer. "Enjoy the Temple you do?"

"Yes Master."

"Good that is, peaceful here it is."

Anakin nodded in agreement. It was definitely peaceful, especially compared to the Senate building where he often did school work in Obi-Wan's office now that he had one. "I like the gardens; I haven't seen one since Naboo." He admitted. Whenever Obi-Wan had time off they tended to go to Tatooine after all so that Anakin could see his mother.

"Explore and learn you should." Yoda told him and Anakin nodded, running off. "Perhaps some classes with his age mates here he could take."

"Qui-Gon's eyes widened in shock. "Master?"

"Other children around he should be."

"I will speak with Kenobi about it." He still felt….uncomfortable around the younger man. Obi-Wan seemed at peace with how his life had turned out but seeing him made Qui-Gon feel guilty. Yoda had been so sure they would make a good Master/Padawan team. He'd been wrong to turn the boy away using his anger as an excuse. Look how calm and controlled he was without completing his training. Had the Order lost an excellent Jedi because of his mistakes?

Anakin huffed in frustration and heard his Master chuckle. "Its fine Ani, it took me a long time to get the hang of this too." He assured the twelve year old. "And I had a lifetime of Jedi training behind me that you don't."

"It's frustrating!"

"So channel that frustration, don't let it control you."

Anakin nodded and closed his eyes, focusing hard. He wanted to get this so bad, he wanted to make Obi-Wan proud. Some lessons were easy, like sensing attacks since it was like what he did when Podracing. Even levitating things wasn't too bad. But this? He was never going to get it. Being an ex-slave himself the idea of making someone do what you wanted felt wrong. "I can't." He finally admitted.

"Alright. Let's stop for today. You have homework to finish."

"I'm sorry Master." He stared at the ground in shame. He looked up as gentle hands came to rest on his shoulders only to find Obi-Wan smiling gently at him, no sign of anger or disappointment.

"Ani there is nothing to be sorry for. Everyone excels in different areas. This may be one that you won't. You are far better at sensing close danger than I am and a far better pilot." He admitted and Anakin grinned slightly, he knew Obi-Wan hated flying even though he was pretty good at it. "Now go do your homework." He gave him a gentle push towards the door and Anakin nodded, heading back to the apartment while Obi-Wan dealt with their test subject.

Padme wanted nothing more than to sit down and rest her aching feet but she couldn't just yet. She smiled at the approaching woman who was dressed just as elaborately as she was. After eight years she was finally stepping down from her position as Queen of Naboo. She could return to her family in the countryside and just relax. Just this last ceremony to transfer her position and then a feast to go and then she was free. She had done her best as Queen to serve her people but the invasion always weighed heavily on her. The Trade Federation had never been truly brought to justice for what they had done to her peaceful planet and its people. So many Gungans had died freeing their planet but what she hadn't learnt till after was how many of her people had died during the initial invasion and then later in the camps. But they had finally recovered from the losses, the population booming, and it was time for her to fade away from the spotlight despite the many please for her to remain Queen. And maybe…..just maybe she would be able to see him again.

TBC…