Chapter 6:

Obi-Wan awoke to the loud snoring of his Master, right into his ear, as well as the comfortable warmth of Qui-Gon. He hid a smile. He had forgotten that the older Jedi could wake up the dead with his snoring due to his broken nose and he had also forgotten how cuddly the man had been.

He hadn't been from the start of their partnership, in fact the long haired Jedi had recoiled from the slightest touch, thankfully however that had changed the more bonded they became. He chuckled fondly at the memory, causing his body to slightly move, which in turn earned him a protesting grunt from the older male. He even tightened his embrace, if that was even possible that is.

"Padawan," the larger male nuzzled into his neck.

"Yes Master?" Obi-Wan decided to play along and if it was only for his own amusement.

"Tell the Council to screw themselves, I am staying in bed today..." he mumbled.

The ginger haired man barely kept himself from laughing, "Of course Master."

Qui-Gon hummed sleepily, "That's my boy." He even weakened his grip. With extra care, so that he would not wake the Jedi Master again, the ginger haired man slipped from his companion's embrace and quickly replaced himself with a pillow. How he wished that he had a holo-camera just now. This would be the perfect blackmailing material.

As if on cue, a certain blonde boy peeked inside. Obi-Wan first motioned for him to be quiet and then pretended to take a picture of the sleeping Jedi Master. Anakin nodded and vanished, only to return with an adventurous looking camera. It took a few moments, but he finally figured out how the home-made device worked and eventually he had gotten his prize. They two males quietly left the room afterwards, silently laughing.

Obi-Wan saw Qui-Gon again in the middle of the day, when the twin suns of Tatooine stood high on the blue and cloudless sky. The Jedi Master looked rested and gave him an amused glance, upon his oil stained hands. The ginger haired Jedi only shrugged. He had been helping Anakin with his podracer, making sure that everything was checked and would hold during the race.

The blonde whirlwind and his friends had been very impressed when Obi-Wan had started levitating tools so that he would not need to get up or search for them. It had also earned him a lot of questions from the children, but luckily Obi-Wan had always enjoyed teaching, especially the next generation, so he patiently answered every single one of the questions. Until Qui-Gon saved him that is.

"Master," Obi-Wan greeted the long haired Jedi. Before he could retort however, he held a sample of blood out for the man to take.

"What is this?" Qui-Gon asked, but he took the sample nevertheless.

"It's Anakin's," he hesitated, "I think we should check the medichlorian count." Qui-Gon gazed into his eyes for a moment. "I was thinking the same thing, Padawan," even his tone sounded strange, almost strained.

"Well, I guess I was faster," he winked and walked past the Jedi Master, who did not move from the spot he was standing on. The ginger haired Jedi did not dare to ask him what was going on though, he feared the questions the older male might ask.

{Over twenty-thousand, Padawan.} Obi-Wan received through the bond, during evening meal. He pretended as if nothing happened and continued eating.

{Excuse me, Master? Over twenty-thousand what?}

Impatience came through the bond, {Anakin's medichlorian count is off the chart Obi-Wan.}

The younger male dared to look at his Master for a second, who was watching him over the table. {Not even Master Yoda has such a high count, Master... are you sure about this?} he had made sure to send a healthy mixture of shock and disbelief through their shared bond, while more or less repeating the words from his first life.

{I checked it more than once, always with the same result...} Obi-Wan felt that the man wanted to say more, so he stayed silent and waited, {We need to find a way to bring him with us to the temple.}

Anakin had just stolen a piece of bread from Obi-Wan's plate, when the ginger haired male had looked up at Qui-Gon. He gave Anakin an amused look and let the boy keep the food when he offered it back with a mischievous smile. "Just wanted to know if you would notice," he admitted.

"You seem distant... is something wrong?" Padme added.

Obi-Wan gave his companions a reassuring smile, always the diplomat and negotiator, "I was just thinking about an old mission, that is all." His eyes locked with Qui-Gon's for a brief moment. {Do you have a plan?}

"Can you tell us about it?" the blonde looked hopeful.

"It was a boring mission actually. Just talking and shaking of hands, really." Obi-Wan retorted and resumed eating. Both Anakin and Padme looked disappointed.

{Not yet... but perhaps I will be able to convince the owner of another bet.}

Obi-Wan barely kept himself from grimacing. {Perhaps...}

"Are a lot of missions just talking and shaking hands?" the young queen inquired.

"I wish it were so. Our lives would be much easier then."

"Please," the long haired Jedi snorted, "You are a magnet for all kind of trouble and it would not surprise me if even the easiest mission would turn out catastrophic with you around."

"Well, with all due respect Master, but it is YOU who always gets us in trouble by following the will of the Force," the time traveller retorted.

"So you say this is my fault?" he sounded hurt, but Obi-Wan knew this was just an act. As a real Padawan he would have believed that he had overstepped his boundaries, but as a Jedi Master he knew better.

"I do not only say it my Master, I KNOW it."

"How can you say that?" and he was actually trying to make the puppy-eyes face, but Obi-Wan just shrugged. "I can't believe you are the young, innocent and lovable child I took under my wing twelve years ago." The remaining people, who had stopped eating as well to listen to the exchange, were trying to hide snickers.

"You wound me Master, I am the man I am today just because of your lessons." From the corner of his eyes he saw how Anakin's brow furrowed.

"Apparently my lessons were not efficient enough," the tall Jedi grumbled, but then he reached up with his right hand to ruffle the ginger haired male's hair.

"Oh I don't know, I think you did a great job," he winked.

"I have to agree with that," Shmi Skywalker suddenly stepped in, "You have a very reliable, helpful and kind hearted young man."

"I do, don't I?" Qui-Gon agreed and send his protégé an earnest smile. Obi-Wan was too flattered to say more than a small 'thank you' and that he isn't THAT special. Even as a Jedi Master he did not like to receive praise, but he usually could hide it better than that. Thankfully he had something else in mind to change the topic.

"Do you want to ask something Ani?"

The blonde slave looked unsure between the two Jedi and even towards his mother, who nodded her consent. "Go ahead Anakin," the older Jedi said.

"Why do you keep calling him your Master, Obi-Wan? You are not a slave, are you?"

Their eyes met. "It's nothing like this Ani. 'Master' is a term I use to show my respect towards my teacher, guide, sometimes healer and whatever else Qui-Gon had to be during the last twelve years," he shot his Master a quick look, who in turn seemed quite amused by the answer. "You could add animal tamer, blanked and victim, Padawan." Obi-Wan ignored the comment.

"That's it? You are teacher and student?" Obi-Wan nodded, causing his young companions to smile brightly, "I am glad then."

"Me too," and this time he and Qui-Gon exchanged a smile as well.

Later that evening the two Jedi had retired to their little chamber to meditate. Obi-Wan had no problem dipping deep into the comforting warmth of the Force, but Qui-Gon seemed to have trouble today.

"Do you want my assistance?" he asked.

"Normally it is the other way around..." the older male sighed and rubbed his temple.

"Qui-Gon?"

"I can't shake the feeling that you are withholding something from me, Obi-Wan," the older male eventually spit out. Obi-Wan cleared his throat. He had expected this conversation sooner or later. "Not only that, but you seem... different."

"How so?" he furrowed his brow.

"Ever since that blaster shot hit you, you have been acting... more mature and distant. Is something bothering you Padawan? You know you can come to me with everything."

"I know," he nodded, "and I really appreciate that, but nothing is wrong." That was actually the truth. He had a second chance, his old Master was sitting and talking with him and the ginger haired Jedi believed he actually could make the galaxy a better place.

Hard midnight blue eyes were fixed on the younger male, not blinking and definitely searching for something on the other's face. A pity that Obi-Wan had perfected his poker face during endless negotiation missions. Otherwise he wouldn't be called 'The Negotiator' after all, even though he hated this nickname.

"Do you trust me?" the ginger haired male suddenly blurted out, causing the elder to blink in confusion for a moment.

"Of course I do, but-"

"Then trust me when I say that there is nothing to worry about." It should not have mattered to him if Qui-Gon found out the truth and in a way, it didn't, but he couldn't allow the older man to interfere. He had everything under control and as hard as it was to even think that, Qui-Gon would only endanger the success of this mission. Obi-Wan could not allow that, even if it cost him his own life in the end.

"Alright then... but I ask of you to come to me before things get out of hand," Qui-Gon finally replied.

It felt as if a whole mountain had been lifted off of his shoulders, "Thank you Master and I promise I will."

Qui-Gon seemed satisfied with the answer and after a few minutes, he was able to slip in the embrace of the Force. Obi-Wan hesitated for a moment and thought about the approaching day. They would need to confront Watto to free Anakin and he knew that I had been a grave mistake not to free Shmi as well. Anakin had been too attached to her, always worried and in the end it had been one of the reasons why the boy had fallen. They would need to do something about that too. He could either use the Force to manipulate the Toydarian's mind, he knew he was way better than Qui-Gon, but this would raise unwanted questions from the older Jedi.

He exhaled and closed his eyes. He could always throw his lightsaber in the betting pool...


Thanks for all the reviews! ^^ (Keep going guys XD)

I think a guest asked this: Amidala IS the title Padme recieved upon becoming a senator and her real name is Padme Naberrie (I checked that). I am not going to change that now however, thanks for pointing out though. You were right, it is a mistake, but well... I think it can be overlooked!^^