Disclaimer: I do not own Star Wars


Obi-Wan felt-rather than saw-Anakin's immediate descent into panic.

They'd spent the better part of two months meditating, working, eating, and sleeping together; of course he was going to feel such a dramatic shift in the young man's signatures. His psyche flashed from surprise, to terror, to defensive rage so quickly he knew instinctively that if Anakin chose to act he'd be helpless to stop him. Yoda was a shock, for both of them, and he didn't like the odds he was facing of things going sour. The Dark Side of the force yawned across the Force Bond, and he caught what little of it he could; shoving it back into nothingness with a firm and dismissive mental gesture, but the rest of it was up to Anakin. For a long time he seemed to teeter between total loss of control and discipline, hovering like a misguided blade of grass balanced across the edge of a razor-sharp knife. Then-with a swiftness that was utterly staggering-Anakin's shields snapped back into place, his hand let go of his lightsaber hilt, and his expression schooled itself into neutrality. A sense of calm collectiveness and acceptance flowed between them like cool spring water against a parched desert and Obi-Wan breathed an unconscious sigh of relief.

"Master Yoda" he said smoothly. "I did not expect to see you here."

"Sensed your coming, I have" Yoda said in his gravelly voice. "Watch your progress from afar, I do." His ancient gaze focused on Anakin, who bowed in deference. "Greatly changed you are since we last met, young Skywalker."

"If I am changed, it is not of my own doing, but Obi-Wan's" was the serene response.

"Hmm…come with me, you both will. Much to discuss, we have."

With that Yoda turned and began to make a slow but steady path away from the landing pad, his staff tapping on the solid surface an achingly nostalgic sound. A murmuring vein of uncertainty traced its way across the bond and Obi-Wan sent a whisper of confirmation back, picking up their single bag and following the elderly Master with Anakin by his side. Alderaan was a picture of beauty. Great, snowcapped mountains rose above rolling hills with lush coniferous forests; spilling down into oceans, lakes, and rivers. Before them, the white and gold stone of the Royal Palace glowed in the afternoon light; casting shadows with its tall winding spires and magnificent domes. Obi-Wan was pleased to see that Anakin was somewhat enthralled with the scenery, his eyes drinking in whatever sights he could; an expression of wonderment on his face. There were few planets in the Galaxy with sources of such wonder, Naboo being one of them that his young companion had seen. Alderaan's majesty was noble where'st Padme's home planet was soft and serene. There was an ancient watchfulness that seemed to span across countless eons captured in the thrum of a single city, trapped in both the past and the future. Eventually, their path led them through a winding causeway of glorious gardens; a multitude of flowers throwing up scents as the hush of numerous fountains sang in little nooks and crannies.

They passed through a set of magnificent wooden doors, which opened automatically and hissed shut behind them. Finding themselves facing a myriad of brightly lit hallways and marble flooring that seemed to stretch on into forever, the two men paused; but hastened to catch up with Yoda as he hopped aboard what Obi-Wan recognized as his favored hover chair and began to float up an enormous set of stairs. They followed at a distance, keeping an eye at their backs by force of habit and glancing at every opened door they passed by to check for hidden threats. Eventually, they entered a small, semi-circular balcony overlooking the abundant gardens. Low, padded seats ringed the edge of the intricately carved rail and it was here that Yoda bid them sit with a simple gesture. A door to their right was partially opened, and Obi-wan could hear the murmur of voices through it, though he could not discern what they were saying. Anakin sat more slowly then he, and the sleeve of his cloak brushed Obi-Wan's as he attempted to get comfortable in his apprehensive state. Once they were sufficiently settled, the Grand Master began to speak.

"Great crimes against the Jedi and the Republic you have committed, young Skywalker" he said gravely. "Aided the Sith in destroying a great legacy, you have."

"I take full responsibility for my actions" Anakin replied in a voice that was surprisingly level.

Yoda 'hmmm'ed' and his gaze appeared to grow distant for a moment.

"The cries of the Jedi I could feel, eons away and across the galaxy" he continued. "In the Force, echo their souls do, always here they are…" His ears wiggled momentarily before stilling again. "Yet cry for revenge they do not, for anger is not the way of the Jedi." He sighed and shook his head. "Your struggles as a Jedi we ignored, your pain we ignored…at a great cost."

"Anakin has made great strides in the past few months" Obi-Wan remarked.

Yoda favored him with a shrewd look.

"Sensed Young Skywalker's changes, I have…great his progress has been." He looked sad for a moment. "However, forget your crimes the people of the Galaxy will not. Understand, they will not. If choose to come out of hiding you do, prepared to face the consequences you must be."

"I unders-" Anakin began, but Obi-Wan cut him off.

"-What might those consequences be?"

"Imprisonment, the people may want; execution, they may demand. Protectors of the people, the Jedi are, but the law we are not."

"But what is the law?" Anakin pressed. "Darth Sidious has claimed sovereignty over all."

"Hmm…destroy the Sith we must…reclaim the Republic we shall. Once restored the peace is, a trial you shall have. For now, a Jedi you remain." He gestured towards the door to the right. "A surprise Senator Organa has for you, speak to Master Obi-Wan alone, I will."

Anakin rose swiftly and bowed hesitantly, slipping through the partially opened entryway and disappearing into the corridor beyond. Yoda was silent while his footsteps receded, he then turned his gaze to Obi-Wan.

"A great thing you have accomplished….Master Kenobi. To bring someone back from the Dark Side, no small feat it is, very painful it must have been."

And so it was that Obi-Wan recounted his entire journey with Anakin. Starting with his surrender on Mustafar to their desperate stop on the planet Void. Speaking of their time on Tatooine was hard, as he was sure Anakin would have preferred to keep the worst of it private, but he was hesitant to leave anything out. Mentioning Cloud City brought about the soft sting of nostalgia, and he almost wished they could have stayed there; languishing in their little apartment and working for Isil in the bookshop. Yoda stayed silent throughout his account, his expression unchanging, the only indication he was truly listening the occasional twitch of his ears.

"Long and hard your journey has been" he remarked once Obi-Wan was finished. "Given up greater men have on a task such as yours."

"Anakin has a good heart" Obi-Wan said wearily. "He was just lost."

"Close you two have become" was the gravelly response, tinged with warning. "Careful you must be, or attachment will be both your falls this time, I fear."

"I care about Anakin" the Jedi Master admitted. "But both of us know our duty to the Republic, we won't let anything stand in our way."

"Good" was the short reply, and a soft hum from Yoda's chair indicated that it was in motion once more. "Come, old friend. Happy your former padawan is, eager to show you something…I sense."

Following the slow but steady forward motion of the Grand Master, Obi-Wan was curious to see what he could possibly be talking about. They took the same doorway out as Anakin had, and descended to the left and straight before a small staircase dipped down into a small, sunny living space with an ovular door. Before them, they were faced with the view of Aldera lake; sparkling in the now-late afternoon light. Golden trees rustled in a soft breeze coming across the vast expanse of water as sun rippled over the waves. A large, white couch followed the circumference of the space, adorned with numerous pillows in soft shades of violet and pink. A low glass table sported a silvery tea set and the rich scent of cinnamon permeated the room, making Obi-Wan rather weak in the knees; it had been a while since he'd had some truly decent tea. Seated upon the couch was Anakin, and in his arms was a tiny bundle of human that was staring at him like he was the entire world. His organic hand traced the curve of a softly pink cheek, and the biggest smile Obi-Wan had ever seen was plastered across his face. Sitting next to him was Bail, who was holding another bundle that was veritably glaring daggers at its sibling for getting all of their father's attention. Reluctant to break the moment, but dying to be close all the same, Obi-Wan crossed the space between door and couch and sat down beside the young man as quietly as possible. Try as he might, inquisitive bright blue eyes snapped towards him the minute he'd settled in, and a toothless grin left him utterly smitten down to his toes. Anakin, noticing the baby's change of focus, smiled amusedly.

"This is Luke" he said quietly. "He likes you, huh? Wata footoo, stuka Ur-Damin Kenobi."

"Oh, I'm an Uncle now am I?" Obi-Wan remarked idly, unable to keep the smile off his face as Anakin handed him Luke. "His eyes are so much like yours." Luke cooed happily and he grinned. "Hello, you like to be the center of attention I see."

"Of course!" Anakin scoffed, taking the other baby from Bail, earning him a squeal of unadulterated delight. "This is Leia" he added, wincing as a strand of his hair was caught in a chubby fist and yanked. "She's meaner than Luke."

"Very force sensitive, your children are" Yoda commented, having floated over to the window to enjoy the view. "Great Jedi they will become."

Anakin opened his mouth, as if to refute Yoda's comment, but seemed to think better of it and instead looked down at the floor with a troubled expression. Leia, upset by her father's abrupt change of focus, wailed loudly 'till he appeared to jerk out of his reverie and murmured something soft and nonsensical. Eventually, she quieted and contented herself with sucking idly on her fist, gazing out the window at the clouds.

"Obi-Wan's got the hang of things" Bail commented good-naturedly, and the Jedi looked down to see that Luke had fallen asleep in the space of a few spare minutes, tucked into the crook of his arm. "Good to see you, by the way" he added. "Yoda told me we'd be expecting you at some point."

"I'm glad you're safe" Obi-Wan replied. "I was worried you might have trouble getting out of Coruscant."

"It was close, but we made it" Bail replied. "Lucky thing too, or I don't think we'd have been there when Padme arrived." Obi-Wan glanced at Anakin at the mention of his deceased wife, but he was far too absorbed with cuddling Leia to have noticed. "Would you like some tea? I've seen you eyeing the kettle since you came in the room."

"I'd love some" Obi-Wan chuckled. "But first I think I'd better find a place to put Luke, I don't think Anakin would forgive me if I spilled hot tea all over his son."

"Take him, I will" Yoda remarked, hovering away from the windowsill and motioning with his tridactyl fingers.

It was certainly a strange sight; Luke looked immense compared to when Anakin had been holding him, but he settled into the Grand Master's chair and closed his eyes like he'd been there before. The two of them floated back to the window while Bail poured the tea and offered it around. Obi-Wan got in two good sips before Leia grew bored of sitting with her father and started eyeing him with a curiosity that was as ferocious as it was adorable. He endured several minutes of very painful beard-pulling before she too magically fell asleep, snoring quite a bit louder than her brother.

"You've got a talent" Bail commented, picking up the sleeping baby and transporting her to a low-lying rocker he hadn't noticed before.

"I had siblings" Obi-Wan murmured, picking up his tea again. "Granted, I didn't get to know them very well, but I know my way around infants."

"You would have been a bossy brother" Anakin muttered, picking at a chocolate-covered mewburry. "Probably a tattle-tale too."

"I'll have you know, my mother told me I was a perfect child" Obi-Wan replied loftily.

"Yeah, because you weren't there."

They fell to a good-natured squabbling, and were soon oblivious to the world around them. Neither of them saw Bail's expression, which was mildly amused and strangely knowing. And they certainly didn't see Yoda, who looked slightly sad and very concerned…


"I don't want either of them to be Jedi."

They were sitting out in front of the palace, on a stone bench in a little alcove surrounded by a mountain of greenery. Above them, a wooden lattice sported intricate lacings of white and yellow blooms shaped like trumpets; curling in and out of their structural support in bunches thicker than a cluster of newborn stars in a stellar nursery. The display went on before them to end over a fountain that bubbled up from the ground from six small holes; shooting only about three feet high before rebounding into the system with a cacophonous splash. Around and beyond the fountain a tile mosaic of muted color continued on to the main path in unpredictable swirls. Soft, golden spheres of light floated through the evening air, providing visibility to those who might wish to wander during the dim twilight hours.

Once the twins were put to bed and tucked away, Bail had shown them each their respective rooms. Both were spacious and grandiose; a sharp contrast to their humble apartment in Cloud City. Obi-Wan suspected he would feel much like a marble rattling about in a giant cage. Yoda had instructed them to take the rest of the evening off, and that they would begin to try and formulate a plan of action the next day. They'd eaten a dinner that was utterly magnificent, though Anakin mostly attacked the fruit, something he was rather prone to do even at a young age. They met Breha Organa, the current Queen; who seemed pleased to have them in the palace. The husband and wife pair had soon excused themselves to spend some time alone together, and Yoda disappeared to meditate in his room with a brief 'goodnight'. This left them to wander down into the gardens, unaccustomed to retiring so early in the evening. Understanding that Anakin was speaking of the twins, Obi-Wan nodded thoughtfully.

"I understand."

Anakin sighed and kicked his legs up onto the bench, rotating his torso 'till his head fell into Obi-Wan's lap. Closing his eyes, he folded his hands on his stomach and appeared content to stay there for an extended amount of time.

"You know, I'm starting to think you'd like me better if I was stuffed and feathered like a pillow."

The younger man snorted.

"No thanks, then I'd have to carry you everywhere."

He told himself he couldn't help the hand that descended to card through the wealth of blond waves spread across his lap. It was habitual-automatic-ingrained from when his former padawan had been a child and seeking some kind of comfort. Forcing himself to concentrate, he returned to the subject at hand.

"I hope it doesn't come as a shock to know that you may not have any say in their future."

"I know" was the weary reply. "But I want them to be loved, and to know what it is to love."

"Children raised at the Temple weren't unloved, simply taught to refrain from forming attachments. The Jedi concept of love is selfless and unhindered by possessiveness." Anakin grunted noncommittally and he smiled crookedly. "Still, I understand that you want your children to grow up knowing affection and comfort."

"It's not that I don't see the benefits of living life as a Jedi" the younger man commented, opening his eyes and turning his head to gaze at the flowered lattice. "I just know that the consequences of failure in the life of a Jedi are much harsher than those of a civilian."

"I don't disagree with you" Obi-Wan murmured, stroking an idle thumb over Anakin's brow. "I just hope you're prepared for when your wishes aren't acknowledged or honored."

There was a silence between them, and they watched as a cloud of luminescent bugs rose from the confines of the lake to ascend into the sky. They twinkled like thousands of golden stars and hummed a tune that was soft and melodic, though it only consisted of about four keys. The last bit of birdsong was fading over the tops of the gold-imbued trees and it was swiftly becoming pitch-dark, save for the floating globes of light that traversed the gardens. Two had come to hover next to their bench, as if waiting for when they got up so they could guide them back to the palace. Far off in the distance, the soft whisper of a speeder taking off was the only interruption to their peaceful evening repose. In some ways, it was achingly beautiful; but at the same time Obi-Wan felt it unnecessarily grandiose. Both of them were men of humble beginnings, and being surrounded by extravagance and finery was neither man's cup of tea so-to-speak. It was some time before they spoke again, both appreciating different aspects of nature in their own remote bubbles of mental solitude. Anakin finally broke the sanctity of the moment by yawning explosively and reaching up to grasp the hand that wasn't stroking his hair; threading deceptively slim fingers through it and bringing it down to rest against his chest.

"Are we going to meditate?" he queried, blinking sleepily.

Gently, Obi-Wan reclaimed his hand, a wan smile on his face.

"We can't keep doing this Anakin…you're grown up now."

"Just tonight" was the soft supplication, accompanied by begging blue eyes. "Just one last time."

As they slipped into unconsciousness, his meditative psyche blazed into existence and instinctively searched for Anakin. Obi-Wan knew this wasn't going to be the last time. As their Soul Signatures wrapped around each other 'till they were one unrecognizable nuance of Light; he knew they were lost. But he'd never known such bliss in the confine's of another's soul…

…he could only hope it wouldn't be the death of both of them.


Random Clarifications:
Wata footoo, stuka Ur-Damin Kenobi-Here fellow, see your uncle kenobi (hutteese).

A/N:
I would have had this out yesterday but i fell asleep at my computer sometime in the afternoon and then other daily demands required i neglect my pc for a while. I know some of you may disagree with how yoda handles anakin, but realistically, for him to engage in combat with him goes against pretty much everything the jedi teach, and yoda's been around for 700+ years at this point, so i imagine he's got his own personal feelings pretty well under wraps; for him to act out of spite or violence just wouldn't really make any sense.

Regarding the romance aspect...I'm trying to make it seem as if they're just slowly falling into it. Realistically, it's the only way i can formulate it working out on both sides.

R&R