Sorry, short chapter. Hope you enjoy :)

Obi-wan looked up as the room grew cold. Something had changed, and he had no idea what, until he spotted the man at the entrance. He knew he would have to face him at some point, but this was too soon. For half of his life, he had bent over backwards trying to please the Master before him, and it had all been for nought. He would never be good enough. The man wanted the Chosen One, not him. He was just another apprentice who had let him down.

"Obi, just breathe," Bant said, voice breaking through the cloud that surrounded him. He did as instructed immediately, having only just realised he had gone without.

"I'm okay," he assured her, though judging by her face, she didn't believe a word of it.

"We can go," she offered, putting her fork down. "I'm done."

"No…no, I'm fine. I've got to get used to this anyway."

"Alright," Bant said sadly, hating that her friend had to go through this at all.

The man in question was now walking forward, headed straight for his usual table, where Mace and Ki-Adi. Only now, his apprentice didn't break away and sit with his friends. Anakin walked beside him, following him to the Master's table.

"He didn't see me," Obi-wan said, relieved. "How did he not notice? Everyone went quiet."

"Obi, everyone goes quiet whenever he walks into a room nowadays. They've all heard what happened. The council has been quite insistent about the story that has been spread around the halls. Everyone knows that you saved him, and they all believe he is a fool."

"He's not a fool," Obi-wan defended on instinct. Bant sighed, not wanting to argue with her friend. Years of idealising the man wouldn't be undone in an instant, no matter what damage Qui-gon had done.

"Fool or not, he shouldn't have let you go."


"Mace, I was unaware you had returned," Qui-gon stated, taking a seat opposite the council-member as Anakin mirrored his actions. The Korun Master did not reply but looked sternly at the man before him and the boy.

"Master Yoda, Mace and Obi-wan returned yesterday," Ki-Adi stated, filling the silence. At the mention of the latter, Qui-gon frowned, hand going to rest on Anakin's shoulder in an unconscious movement.

"How is Obi-wan? Better, I trust."

"That is no concern of yours, not anymore," Mace stated harshly, surprising even himself by the bluntness of the statement.

"Do not presume I do not care for him," Qui-gon replied, matching the serious tone.

"If you cared, you would have noticed his presence," Mace said, confusing Qui-gon, who suddenly understood the meaning. Looking behind him, Qui-gon spotted the young man sat opposite his friend Bant. He had walked straight past him and not seen him, not felt his aura in the Force. He, who professed to be so in tune with the Living Force did not notice his former Padawan. What had been on his mind?

"Even a Jedi can be unobservant sometimes Mace," Qui-gon defended weakly, knowing the excuse would fall short.

As the awkwardness grew, Master Mundi couldn't help but clear his throat and change the subject.

"Master Drallig had praised your natural abilities young Skywalker," Ki-Adi stated to the boy. "He says your skills will develop in no time."

"He also criticises every move I make," Anakin pouted, digging into his food.

"The best way to learn is through our mistakes Annie," Qui-gon said, as Mace's scowl grew.

"Then why doesn't he put me against proper padawans? He keeps making me fight younglings. They make loads of mistakes. How am I supposed to learn from them?"

"Those younglings have been training since they could carry a lightsabre. You have a great deal to learn from them Skywalker," Mace stated, having enough of the boy's whining.

"Perhaps I will talk to Master Drallig," Qui-gon said, making Anakin grin like a beacon as Mace switched his glare back to the man. Was he going to indulge the boy's every whim?

"Thank-you Master Qui-gon Sir," Anakin replied. Mace was about to object and defend Master Drallig's stance on the matter when he saw movement out of the corner of his eye and dread grew within him. Obi-wan had stood and was walking their way.

It was the end of the morning sitting, and everyone was headed to training or class, but there were still a few Jedi who remained to watch the young hero of Naboo make his way over to his former Master. Obi-wan approached slowly, Bant stood by their now abandoned table looking worried. It was her expression that made Mace stand as the young man drew near. Ki-Adi mirrored his stance as both council-members wanted to be ready for any eventuality.

Seeing the two council-members stand before him, Qui-gon looked over his shoulder and saw his former Padawan walk over. There was frailty in his step, making it clear that the young man was yet fully recovered from Naboo, but at least he was standing on his own. The boy had come a long way from the half-dead figure on the medical bed a few weeks prior.

"Masters," Obi-wan greeted, bowing low to the two council-members and his former Master before him.

"Obi-wan," Mace replied instantly, a questioning look in his gaze as he tried to understand what the young man was doing. Obi-wan, however, ignored him, focusing his full attention on Qui-gon. It was after a small pause where Qui-gon seemed to consider his options before the man stood and bowed his head.

"Obi-wan. I am glad to see you looking so well. You have come a long way in such little time."

"Thank-you Master Jinn," Obi-wan replied, making them all take note of the 'Jinn' and not simply 'Master'. "I came over here to offer my congratulations to Anakin. I fear I did not get to say so on Naboo, given my weakness. I wish you all the best in your studies," Obi-wan stated to the boy in front of him, forcing himself to smile though inside it was killing him.

"Thanks," Anakin replied, looking confused as he glanced at Obi-wan and his Master. "I…I'm glad you're better." Obi-wan then did smile naturally as he was reminded that Anakin was just a little boy, corrupted by the dark world he had been enslaved in, but no less kind at heart.

"Thank-you Anakin. May the Force be with you," Obi-wan replied, before bowing his head to the group. "Masters," he finished, before walking away. Qui-gon opened his mouth to reply just as Obi-wan glanced at him and hesitated, but the moment went, and the Master failed to voice his opinion. Obi-wan had approached him in peace, and he had been unable to reply.

Looking down in shame, Qui-gon took a breath before looking back at the boy beside him.

"Come, Anakin. Let's get you to class," he stated, knowing he was already going to be slightly late. The two of them left, walking through the halls in silence. The boy confused by the way Obi-wan had spoken to him so kindly when he had overheard the rumours. Everyone hated Anakin because they all thought he was the reason Obi-wan had been abandoned, but why then was Obi-wan so lovely. Was it a trap? Was he faking it?

Qui-gon, on the other hand, walked the halls contemplating his choices over the last few weeks. The Force had saved his life on Naboo. It was its will that he was now training Anakin, the Chosen One. Then why did he feel so at a loss when he saw the Obi-wan again? It was not his destiny to be tied to him. He had to stop with these thoughts. He had to move on from his former Padawan. The Force chose Anakin. That had to be enough.

"Qui-gon," a voice called sternly from behind. Turning, the Master spotted Mace down the corridor. "I would speak with you…privately," the council-member said, eyeing the boy.

"Annie, why don't you go ahead to class, you know where it is," Qui-gon said to his apprentice, forcing a smile even though he knew he was about to face a harsh rebuke.

"You sure?" Anakin asked, seeing through the fake expression.

"Yes, I'm sure. Run along now," Qui-gon replied, giving the boy a little push before he scampered off down the hall. `

"In here," Mace stated, pressing the keypad by one of the private meditation rooms they were next to. When they both entered, Mace walked to the window, staring out as he contemplated how to begin; how to leave this room without losing his temper. In that time, Qui-gon had decided that no matter what he thought about his actions today, it did not justify a tirade from his former friend.

"What is this Mace?"

"What do you think it is?" Master Windu replied, not turning around.

"An opportunity for you to unleash some of your anger. That's how you cope, isn't it? You don't release it, you scream it out on some undeserving Master or Knight, or even Padawan."

"You believe yourself to be undeserving?" Mace asked, not taking the bait to discuss his own character. Qui-gon wouldn't turn this around on him.

"If this is about Obi-wan…"

"Of course it is," Mace snapped, this time facing the man.

"Then this conversation is over…"

"Why? Because you would rather ignore him for the rest of your days?"

"I would not ignore him."

"Then what was that a moment ago? He came over to clear the air between the two of you, and your words failed. You ignored that chance."

"You always meddle," Qui-gon stated, shaking his head at the man before him. "You need to know when to leave things alone."

"As you did on Melida Daan?"

"That is not fair. Tahl had just…"

"You left your apprentice alone in the middle of a war!"

"He turned on me!"

"He did what he felt was right. He was a child!"

"He betrayed me!"

"Obi-wan never betrayed you!"

"He went against my orders. Then, and on Naboo!"

"He saved your life!"

"The Force saved my life!"

Qui-gon didn't see it coming before it was too late. One moment he was screaming at the top of his lungs, the next he was on the ground, face stinging as he felt the impact of a fist. He couldn't believe it. Mace Windu had punched him, so hard that he had fallen to the ground.

His hand went up to caress the forming bruise as he stared up at his former friend that now loomed above him, fury in his gaze.

"You will never understand the damage and heartbreak you have caused. Harm the boy in any way, ever again, and I will be there to send you back to the self-obsessed pit you belong in," Mace said, before storming out of the room, never looking back.

Qui-gon didn't regain his feet, not at first. He knew from that moment on that he would never be able to redeem his actions. He would only be able to look to the future, to Anakin. The past was lost. Obi-wan was lost to him. The decision had been made.

Please review!